MazeMaster: an open-source Python-based software package for controlling virtual reality experiments

AO_SCPLOWBSTRACTC_SCPLOWIn the last 15 years, virtual realities have revolutionized behavior experiments in particular for rodents. In combination with treadmills, running wheels, or air-floating balls, the implementation of a virtual reality (VR) provides not only the opportunity to simultaneously explore behavior and neuronal activity in head-fixed animals under nearly natural conditions, but also allows full control over the visual sensory input presented to the animal. Furthermore, VRs can be combined with other sensory modalities such as auditory, tactile or olfactory stimuli. Despite the power of using VRs in animal experiments, available software packages are very limited, expensive and lack the required flexibility to design appropriate behavior and neurophysiology experiments. For this reason, we have developed the versatile, adaptable and easy to use VR environment MazeMaster, an open-source, Python-based software package for controlling virtual reality setups and behavior experiments. The software package includes a graphical user interface (GUI) and can be integrated into standard electrophysiology and imaging setups even by non-programmers. Ready-made behavioral experiments such as multisensory discrimination in T-mazes are already implemented including full control for reward supply and bias correction. For more individual setup designs, the modularity of MazeMaster allows more programming-affine users to extend the software with potentially missing features. With MazeMaster, we offer a free and easy-to-use VR controller that will facilitate the implementation of VR setups in scientific laboratories. In addition, MazeMaster allows the design and control of common head-fixed rodent behavior paradigms with extensive acquisition of meta-data required for reproducible VR experiments. The MazeMaster VR package, therefore, offers a collaboration tool for reproducible research within and across neuroscience laboratories according to the FAIR principles.