MARGO (Massively Automated Real-time GUI for Object-tracking), a platform for high-throughput ethology

Fast object tracking in real time allows convenient tracking of very large numbers of animals and closed-loop experiments that control stimuli for many animals in parallel. We developed MARGO, a MATLAB-based, real-time animal tracking suite for custom behavioral experiments. We demonstrated that MARGO can rapidly and accurately track large numbers of animals in parallel over very long timescales, typically when spatially separated such as in multiwell plates. We incorporated control of peripheral hardware, and implemented a flexible software architecture for defining new experimental routines. These features enable closed-loop delivery of stimuli to many individuals simultaneously. We highlight MARGO’s ability to coordinate tracking and hardware control with two custom behavioral assays (measuring phototaxis and optomotor response) and one optogenetic operant conditioning assay. There are currently several open source animal trackers. MARGO’s strengths are 1) fast and accurate tracking, 2) high throughput, 3) an accessible interface and data output and 4) real-time closed-loop hardware control for for sensory and optogenetic stimuli, all of which are optimized for large-scale experiments.

实时快速目标追踪技术可便捷实现海量动物的追踪，并支持并行调控多只动物的刺激闭环实验。本研究开发了MARGO——一款基于MATLAB的定制化行为实验实时动物追踪套件。我们验证了MARGO可在极长时长下并行快速且精准地追踪大量动物，尤其适用于多孔板等空间分隔的实验场景。该套件集成了外围硬件控制功能，并采用灵活的软件架构以支持自定义实验流程，可实现对多只个体的同步刺激闭环递送。我们通过两项定制化行为实验（趋光性与视动反应检测）及一项光遗传操作性条件反射实验，展示了MARGO协调追踪与硬件控制的能力。目前已有多款开源动物追踪工具，而MARGO的优势在于：1）快速精准的追踪性能；2）高通量处理能力；3）易用的交互界面与数据输出；4）针对感官与光遗传刺激的实时闭环硬件控制，所有特性均针对大规模实验进行了优化。