An arbitrary-spectrum spatial visual stimulator for vision research

• DOI: 10.7554/elife.48779
• Publication Date: 2019-09-23T12:00:52Z
• Authors: Katrin Franke; André Maia Chagas; Zhijian Zhao; Maxime JY Zimmermann; Philipp Bartel; Yongrong Qiu; Klaudia P Szatko; Tom Baden; Thomas Euler
• Keywords: retina; QH301-705.5; dichromatic vision; two-photon calcium imaging; Science; Q; R; Retina; Mice; color vision; tetrachromatic vision; visual system; Medicine; Animals; Biology (General); Photic Stimulation; Vision, Ocular; Zebrafish; Neuroscience

Visual neuroscientists require accurate control of visual stimulation. However, few stimulator solutions simultaneously offer high spatio-temporal resolution and free control over the spectra of the light sources, because they rely on off-the-shelf technology developed for human trichromatic vision. Importantly, consumer displays fail to drive UV-shifted short wavelength-sensitive photoreceptors, which strongly contribute to visual behaviour in many animals, including mice, zebrafish and fruit flies. Moreover, many non-mammalian species feature more than three spectral photoreceptor types. Here, we present a flexible, spatial visual stimulator with up to six arbitrary spectrum chromatic channels. It combines a standard digital light processing engine with open source hard- and software that can be easily adapted to the experimentalist’s needs. We demonstrate the capability of this general visual stimulator experimentally in the in vitro mouse retinal whole-mount and the in vivo zebrafish. With this work, we intend to start a community effort of sharing and developing a common stimulator design for vision research.