How can I provide sensory stimulation in the Mobile HomeCage?
Mobile HomeCage walls provide a source of natural tactile stimulation. Since mice rely on tactile stimulation more than on their vision, visual stimulation is not necessary in our system. However, it is possible to visually stimulate mice in the Mobile HomeCage. The simplest way to do so is to put stickers on the walls of the Mobile HomeCage. For visual stimulation from a monitor or VR, use a cage with transparent walls or an extra-low wall cage (20 mm wall height). The same extra-low wall cage can be used for stimulating whiskers or delivering odors (if you need to approach the mouse from the front). An alternative option is to mount the stimulation devices on the bridge. The cage floor and walls may be covered with stickers of different texture, and small objects can be placed on the walls or on the floor. The objects must be light as not to make the cage too heavy and impede flotation.