The Future Is Open: Open-Source Tools for Behavioral Neuroscience Research

Significance Statement: There has been a recent and substantial increase in the use of open-source tools for conducting research studies in neuroscience. The OpenBehavior Project was created to disseminate open-source projects specific to the study of behavior. In this commentary, we emphasize the benefits of adopting an open-source mindset and highlight current methods and projects that give promise for open-source tools to drive advancement of behavioral measurement and ultimately understanding the neural basis of behavior.

[1]  Andrew P. Davison,et al.  A Commitment to Open Source in Neuroscience , 2017, Neuron.

[2]  Bastijn J. G. van den Boom,et al.  Automated classification of self-grooming in mice using open-source software , 2017, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

[3]  Philipp Häfliger,et al.  Open source modules for tracking animal behavior and closed-loop stimulation based on Open Ephys and Bonsai , 2018, bioRxiv.

[4]  Elecia White,et al.  Feeding Experimentation Device (FED): A flexible open-source device for measuring feeding behavior , 2016, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

[5]  Christophe Bernard Open Source Tools and Methods , 2019, eNeuro.

[6]  Shay Ohayon,et al.  Open Ephys: an open-source, plugin-based platform for multichannel electrophysiology , 2017, Journal of neural engineering.

[7]  Gonçalo Lopes,et al.  Bonsai: an event-based framework for processing and controlling data streams , 2014, bioRxiv.

[8]  Shoaib Sufi,et al.  Toward standard practices for sharing computer code and programs in neuroscience , 2016, Nature Neuroscience.

[9]  Andre Maia Chagas,et al.  Haves and have nots must find a better way: The case for open scientific hardware. , 2018 .

[10]  M. A. MacIver,et al.  Neuroscience Needs Behavior: Correcting a Reductionist Bias , 2017, Neuron.

[11]  Yaroslav O. Halchenko,et al.  Open is Not Enough. Let's Take the Next Step: An Integrated, Community-Driven Computing Platform for Neuroscience , 2012, Front. Neuroinform..

[12]  Kevin M. Cury,et al.  DeepLabCut: markerless pose estimation of user-defined body parts with deep learning , 2018, Nature Neuroscience.

[13]  Sridevi Polavaram,et al.  Win–win data sharing in neuroscience , 2017, Nature Methods.

[14]  Balázs Hangya,et al.  Open Source Tools for Temporally Controlled Rodent Behavior Suitable for Electrophysiology and Optogenetic Manipulations , 2018, Front. Syst. Neurosci..

[15]  Jude A Frie,et al.  An Open Source Automated Two-Bottle Choice Test Apparatus for Rats. , 2019, HardwareX.

[16]  Nicholas A. Steinmetz,et al.  Spontaneous behaviors drive multidimensional, brainwide activity , 2019, Science.

[17]  André Maia Chagas,et al.  Haves and have nots must find a better way: The case for open scientific hardware , 2018, PLoS biology.

[18]  Anton Sheinin,et al.  StimDuino: An Arduino-based electrophysiological stimulus isolator , 2015, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

[19]  Peyman Golshani,et al.  All the light that we can see: a new era in miniaturized microscopy , 2018, Nature Methods.

[20]  Scott F. Owen,et al.  An open-source control system for in vivo fluorescence measurements from deep-brain structures , 2019, Journal of Neuroscience Methods.

[21]  Kristin Branson,et al.  JAABA: interactive machine learning for automatic annotation of animal behavior , 2013, Nature Methods.