Development of an Audiovisual Go/No-Go Learning Paradigm for Head-Fixed Mice in Virtual Reality

Associating sensory cues with reward is a core cognitive function driving adaptive survival. To investigate how animals learn associations between auditory and visual stimuli, we developed an audiovisual Go/No-Go learning paradigm for head-fixed mice in virtual reality (VR). The setup features two monitors positioned at a 100° angle displaying a VR environment, controlled via Bonsai software, which orchestrates task logic and real-time event control. Locomotion is recorded via a rotary encoder attached to a 3D-printed running wheel. Licking responses are detected using an infrared (IR) beam sensor, which triggers a valve to deliver a calibrated water reward upon correct Go performance. Valve actuation is driven by a custom lab-built circuit board, while a National Instruments DAQ board synchronizes all inputs and outputs with millisecond-precision timestamps. Two articulated arms and custom 3D-printed components, including the running wheel and reward port, allow ergonomic adjustment across individual animals. Following validation of the behavioral paradigm, extracellular recordings will be incorporated to investigate the neural basis of learning.