AI and Gaming Tech Revolutionize Lab Animal Research
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Neuroscience labs are using video game and computer vision tech like the Xbox Kinect to track mouse movement and behavior in new detail. This helps decode how the brain creates behavior.
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Computer vision tools can detect subtle mouse behaviors missed by human observers, allowing more sensitive tracking of reactions to drugs and gene edits.
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These tools may revolutionize medical research by improving animal testing and reducing suffering, but need to prove reliability at basic behavior tracking first.
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The tech is being used in cutting-edge optogenetics experiments and to develop better pain medications. It could bring drug companies back to pain research.
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Upgrades will combine supervised and unsupervised AI to leverage both human insight and computer pattern finding. The goal is to link brain activity to behavior.