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.实时高速目标追踪技术可便捷实现大规模动物群体追踪，以及并行调控多只动物刺激的闭环实验。我们研发了MARGO——一款基于MATLAB的定制化行为实验实时动物追踪套件。实验验证表明，MARGO可在极长时长下并行、快速且精准地追踪大量动物，尤其适配多孔板等空间分隔的实验场景。该套件集成了外设硬件控制功能，并搭建了灵活的软件架构以支持自定义实验流程，上述特性可实现对多只实验动物的同步刺激闭环递送。我们通过两项定制化行为实验（分别检测趋光性与视动反应）以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核心能力。目前已有多款开源动物追踪软件，而MARGO的优势在于：1）快速精准的追踪性能；2）高通量实验能力；3）易用的交互界面与数据输出格式；4）面向感官与光遗传刺激的实时闭环硬件控制功能，所有特性均针对大规模实验场景进行了优化。