Correcting for physical distortions in visual stimuli improves reproducibility in zebrafish neuroscience

eLife

Timothy W Dunn¹  James E Fitzgerald² 

[1] Duke Forge, Duke Global Neurosurgery and Neurology, Departments of Statistical Science and Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, United States;Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, United States;

关键词: visual stimulus design;    air-water interface;    escape behavior;    zebrafish;    receptive fields;    neurobiology;    Zebrafish;   

DOI  :  10.7554/eLife.53684

来源: publisher

【 摘 要 】

Optical refraction causes light to bend at interfaces between optical media. This phenomenon can significantly distort visual stimuli presented to aquatic animals in water, yet refraction has often been ignored in the design and interpretation of visual neuroscience experiments. Here we provide a computational tool that transforms between projected and received stimuli in order to detect and control these distortions. The tool considers the most commonly encountered interface geometry, and we show that this and other common configurations produce stereotyped distortions. By correcting these distortions, we reduced discrepancies in the literature concerning stimuli that evoke escape behavior, and we expect this tool will help reconcile other confusing aspects of the literature. This tool also aids experimental design, and we illustrate the dangers that uncorrected stimuli pose to receptive field mapping experiments.

【 授权许可】

CC BY