A Teensy microcontroller-based interface for optical imaging camera control during behavioral experiments

Abstract Background Systems neuroscience experiments often require the integration of precisely timed data acquisition and behavioral monitoring. While specialized commercial systems have been designed to meet various needs of data acquisition and device control, they often fail to offer flexibility to interface with new instruments and variable behavioral experimental designs. New method We developed a Teensy 3.2 microcontroller-based interface that offers high-speed, precisely timed behavioral data acquisition and digital and analog outputs for controlling sCMOS cameras and other devices. Results We demonstrate the flexibility and the temporal precision of the Teensy interface in two experimental settings. We first used the Teensy interface for reliable recordings of an animal’s directional movement on a spherical treadmill, while delivering repeated digital pulses that can be used to control image acquisition from a sCMOS camera. In another example, we used the Teensy interface to control temporally precise delivery of an auditory stimulus and a gentle eye puff in a trace conditioning eye blink behavioral paradigm, while delivering repeated digital pulses to initiate camera image acquisition. Comparison with existing methods This interface allows high-speed and temporally precise digital data acquisition and device control during diverse behavioral experiments. Conclusion The Teensy interface, consisting of a Teensy 3.2 and custom software functions, provides a temporally precise, low-cost, and flexible platform to integrate sCMOS camera control into behavioral experiments.