System and method for detecting attention of mouse from bottom to top

Abstract

The invention provides a system and method for detecting the attention of a mouse from bottom to top, and relates to the technical field of attention detection, and the system comprises a head-mounted camera system which is used for being installed on the head of the mouse moving freely during detection, so as to monitor and evaluate the related indexes of attention transfer in real time; the head-mounted gyroscope is used for detecting the head movement of the mouse so as to capture the response of the mouse to the external remarkable stimulation; and the stimulation generation system is used for providing various obvious sensory stimuli for the mouse. The invention provides an animal model detection system for bottom-to-top attention, and fills the blank that the field is lack of effective detection indexes at present; through combination of the head-mounted camera system and the head-mounted gyroscope, eye movement and head movement of the mouse under obvious external stimulation can be accurately captured, and more accurate and reliable data support is provided for detection of attention from bottom to top.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of attention detection, and in particular to a system and method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice. Background Art

[0002] Attention, as a key psychological phenomenon, selectively focuses on external or internal stimuli, which is of great significance to the survival and adaptation of organisms. Attention mechanisms are usually divided into top-down and bottom-up. Top-down attention is driven by the individual's intentions, goals or tasks, and is closely related to active search and goal-oriented behaviors. In contrast, bottom-up attention is naturally triggered by significant stimuli in the external environment, usually manifested as an unconscious automatic reaction, independent of the individual's will.

[0003] In the fields of neuroscience and psychology, research on top-down attention has made significant progress, and a large number of studies have used animal models to explore the underlying principles of this mechanism. However, research on bottom-up attention is relatively rare, especially in establishing animal models to detect this automatically triggered attention shift. Therefore, we have improved this and proposed a system and method for detecting bottom-up attention in mice. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to address the problem that there is relatively little research on bottom-up attention.

[0005] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose of the invention, the present invention provides a system and method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice to improve the above-mentioned problem.

[0006] The specific application is as follows: A bottom-up attention detection system for mice, comprising: A head-mounted camera system is installed on the head of a freely moving mouse during testing to monitor and evaluate the relevant indicators of attention shift in real time; A head-mounted gyroscope is used to detect the mouse's head movement to capture its response to external salient stimuli; Stimulus generation system, the stimulus generation system is used to provide a variety of significant sensory stimuli to mice.

[0007] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, it also includes a data processing and analysis module, which is connected to the head-mounted camera system, the head-mounted gyroscope and the stimulus generating system, and is used to receive data from the head-mounted camera system and the head-mounted gyroscope, and perform real-time or offline analysis to determine the eye movement and head movement characteristics of the mouse when facing external significant stimuli, so as to evaluate its bottom-up attention response.

[0008] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, relevant indicators for evaluating attention shift include eye movements, pupil changes and head movements of mice.

[0009] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, sensory stimulation includes sudden light changes, sound stimulation and air blowing stimulation to induce a bottom-up attention shifting response in mice.

[0010] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, the head-mounted camera system uses a high-speed camera to accurately capture subtle changes in the mouse's eye movements, including the trajectory, speed and acceleration of the eye movements.

[0011] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, the stimulation generating system includes a programmable light source, a sound generator and an ear washing bulb to simulate significant sensory stimulation.

[0012] A method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice, using a system for detecting bottom-up attention of mice, comprising: using a stimulus generation system to apply significant sensory stimulation to mice; using a head-mounted camera system and a head-mounted gyroscope to record the eye movement and head movement data of the mice; transmitting the recorded data to a data processing and analysis module for real-time or offline analysis; and evaluating the bottom-up attention characteristics and reaction patterns of the mice when facing external significant stimulation based on the analysis results.

[0013] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, it also includes calculating the mouse eye movement velocity (V_e), and the calculation formula is: V_e=(sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2)) / Δt; Where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of the mouse eye position at two different moments, and Δt is the time interval between the two moments.

[0014] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, it also includes calculating the angular velocity (ω_h) of the mouse head rotation, and the calculation formula is: ω_h=(θ2-θ1) / Δt; Where θ1 and θ2 are the rotation angles of the mouse's head at two different moments, and Δt is the time interval between the two moments.

[0015] As a preferred technical solution of the present application, it also includes a step of evaluating the concentration of mice, which is achieved by calculating the pupil diameter change rate (R_p), and the calculation formula is: R_p=((D2-D1) / D1)×100%, where D1 is the pupil diameter of the mouse in the initial state, and D2 is the pupil diameter of the mouse after external stimulation.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects: In the scheme of this application: The present invention proposes an animal model detection system for bottom-up attention, filling the gap of the current lack of effective detection indicators in this field; by combining a head-mounted camera system and a head-mounted gyroscope, the present invention can accurately capture the eye movements and head movements of mice under significant external stimuli, providing more accurate and reliable data support for the detection of bottom-up attention; the present invention provides new approaches and tools for research in related fields such as neuroscience and psychology, and helps to promote in-depth research on the bottom-up attention mechanism. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a mouse wearing a head-mounted camera system provided in the present application; Figure 2 Schematic diagram of eye movement speed provided for this application; Figure 3 Eye velocity heatmap provided for this application; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of a mouse wearing a head-mounted gyroscope provided in this application; Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the head movement index provided for this application; Figure 6 Head movement index heat map provided for this application; Figure 7 The original eye picture provided for this application; Figure 8 Schematic diagram of AI pupil recognition provided for this application; Fig. 9 A simulated pupil outline diagram provided for this application; Fig.10 Pupil movement trajectory diagram provided for this application; Fig.11 Heatmap of pupil movements provided for this application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the scheme of the present invention, the technical scheme in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] It should be noted that, in the absence of conflict, the embodiments of the present invention and the features and technical solutions in the embodiments may be combined with each other.

[0020] It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters denote similar items in the following drawings, and therefore, once an item is defined in one drawing, further definition and explanation thereof is not required in subsequent drawings.

[0021] Example 1, please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4 , a bottom-up attention detection system for mice, comprising: Head-mounted camera system 1: The head-mounted camera system 1 is installed on the head of a freely moving mouse during detection to monitor and evaluate the relevant indicators of attention transfer in real time. This design can detect when the mouse is in a freely moving state, and restore the attention performance of the mouse in a natural state to the greatest extent. In a natural state, the behavior of the mouse is not restricted too much, and its attention display is more real and reliable. Compared with the traditional detection method of restricting the activity of the mouse, this method avoids the unnatural reaction that may be caused by restricting the activity, so that the detection results can more accurately reflect the attention of the mouse in real life. Through real-time monitoring, researchers can timely obtain the dynamic changes of the mouse's attention transfer, providing rich data support for in-depth analysis of the mouse's attention mechanism; Head-mounted gyroscope 2: Head-mounted gyroscope 2 is used to detect the head movement of mice to capture their response to significant external stimuli. Head-mounted gyroscope 2 can accurately detect the movement of the mouse's head, providing a key basis for judging the degree of the mouse's response to external stimuli. Head movement is one of the important manifestations of the mouse's response to external stimuli. The head-mounted gyroscope 2 can capture these subtle movement changes in a timely and accurate manner. This precise detection helps researchers gain a deeper understanding of the mouse's response patterns when facing different stimuli, thereby better analyzing the changes in its attention. Stimulus generation system: The stimulus generation system is used to provide mice with a variety of significant sensory stimuli. Providing a variety of sensory stimuli enriches the means of detection and can more comprehensively induce the attention shift response of mice. Different types of sensory stimuli, such as sudden light changes and sound stimulation, can stimulate the attention of mice from different aspects. For example, instantaneous strong light exposure may cause visual alertness in mice, while sharp high-frequency sounds may stimulate the auditory system of mice and cause their attention to shift. Through a variety of stimulation methods, a wider range of attention induction situations can be covered, making the test results more representative and reliable. This helps researchers to gain a deeper understanding of the attention response mechanism of mice under different stimulation conditions and provide a more comprehensive perspective for related research; For ease of description and understanding, this application uses A to represent a mouse and marks it in the figures.

[0022] Embodiment 2 further optimizes the bottom-up attention detection system for mice provided in Embodiment 1, specifically, further comprising a data processing and analysis module, which is connected to the head-mounted camera system 1, the head-mounted gyroscope 2 and the stimulus generation system, and is used to receive data from the head-mounted camera system 1 and the head-mounted gyroscope 2, and perform real-time or offline analysis to determine the eye movement and head movement characteristics of mice when facing external significant stimuli, so as to evaluate their bottom-up attention response; The addition of the data processing and analysis module has brought great advantages to the detection system. First, the collected data can be analyzed in real time or offline, which improves the flexibility and efficiency of data analysis. Real-time analysis allows researchers to understand the changes in the mice's attention in a timely manner during the experiment, so as to adjust the experimental parameters in time according to the actual situation and ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of the experiment. Offline analysis can conduct more in-depth research on a large amount of data after the experiment, and use complex data analysis algorithms to mine more valuable information, so as to more accurately evaluate the bottom-up attention characteristics of mice. Secondly, by determining the eye and head movement characteristics of mice when facing external stimuli, the attention of mice can be comprehensively evaluated from multiple angles, providing a richer basis for in-depth research on the mechanism of attention.

[0023] Furthermore, relevant indicators for evaluating attention transfer include eye movements, pupil changes and head movements of mice. It is of great significance to use eye movements, pupil changes and head movements as relevant indicators for evaluating attention transfer. Eye movements are an intuitive manifestation of attention. By observing the movement trajectory, speed and acceleration of the mouse's eyeballs, we can directly understand the direction and transfer of the mouse's attention. Pupil changes reflect the mouse's physiological state and concentration. When the mouse reacts strongly to external stimuli, the pupil often changes significantly. Comprehensive consideration of eye movements, pupil changes and head movements can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mouse's attention transfer and provide researchers with richer information. In addition, the combination of these two indicators can also verify each other to improve the accuracy and reliability of the test results.

[0024] Furthermore, sensory stimulation included sudden light changes, sound stimulation, and air puff stimulation to induce bottom-up attention shifting responses in mice.

[0025] Furthermore, the head-mounted camera system 1 uses a high-speed camera to accurately capture the slight changes in the mouse's eye movements, including the trajectory, speed and acceleration of the eye movements. The application of high-speed cameras has greatly improved the accuracy of mouse eye movement detection. It can accurately capture the slight changes in the mouse's eye movements and provide more detailed data for analyzing the mouse's attention. Parameters such as the trajectory, speed and acceleration of the eye movements can reflect the dynamic changes in the mouse's attention, which is of great significance for studying the neural mechanism of attention. Through the precise detection of high-speed cameras, some subtle changes that are difficult to detect with traditional detection methods can be discovered, providing new clues and basis for in-depth research on the mouse's attention.

[0026] Furthermore, the stimulation generation system includes a programmable light source, a sound generator and an ear bulb to simulate significant sensory stimulation. The programmable stimulation generation system brings great flexibility to experimental design. Researchers can generate stimulation signals of various intensities, frequencies and durations according to preset programs based on different experimental needs, thereby precisely controlling the stimulation parameters. This allows the experiment to more specifically study the attention response of mice under different stimulation conditions, improve the controllability and accuracy of the experiment, and at the same time, the programmable stimulation generation system can also realize automated experimental operations, reduce interference from human factors, and improve the reliability and repeatability of the experiment.

[0027] Embodiment 3, a method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice, using a system for detecting bottom-up attention of mice, comprising: applying significant sensory stimulation to mice using a stimulation generation system; using a head-mounted camera system 1 and a head-mounted gyroscope 2 to record eye movement and head movement data of mice; transmitting the recorded data to a data processing and analysis module for real-time or offline analysis; and evaluating the bottom-up attention characteristics and reaction patterns of mice when facing external significant stimulation according to the analysis results; The experimental results show that after a strong external stimulus, the mouse's eye and head movements will briefly stagnate. This stagnation phenomenon is consistent with the characteristics of bottom-up attention, indicating that when the mouse faces sudden external stimuli, its attention will automatically shift, accompanied by delays in eye and head movements. When external salient stimuli trigger bottom-up attention, they are usually manifested through eye and head movements. This reaction is unconscious and rapid, which is consistent with the characteristics of bottom-up attention. This system can effectively evaluate the animal's response to external stimuli by monitoring the eye and head movements of mice, providing a new method and tool for the detection of bottom-up attention.

[0028] Furthermore, it also includes calculating the eye movement velocity (V_e) of the mouse, and the calculation formula is: V_e=(sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2)) / Δt; Among them, (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of the mouse's eye position at two different moments, and Δt is the time interval between the two moments. This formula accurately obtains the mouse's eye movement speed by calculating the change distance of the mouse's eye position within a certain period of time and dividing it by the time interval. It can more carefully reflect the speed of the mouse's eye movement when facing external stimuli; a faster eye movement speed means that the mouse pays more attention to the stimulus and its attention shifts quickly; a slower eye movement speed means that the mouse's attention is more distracted or it is insensitive to stimuli. This quantitative analysis helps researchers to have a deeper understanding of the mouse's attention mechanism and provide more accurate data support for related research.

[0029] Furthermore, it also includes calculating the angular velocity (ω_h) of the mouse head rotation, and the calculation formula is: ω_h=(θ2-θ1) / Δt; Among them, θ1 and θ2 are the rotation angles of the mouse's head at two different moments, and Δt is the time interval between the two moments. This formula calculates the angular velocity based on the change in the head rotation angle within the time interval. It can quantify the speed at which the mouse's head turns when responding to external stimuli, which helps to deeply analyze the mouse's attention response mechanism. A faster head rotation angular velocity may mean that the mouse responds more quickly to stimuli and has more obvious attention shifts. This quantitative analysis helps researchers to deeply study the mouse's attention response mechanism and provide important clues to reveal the neurobiological basis of attention.

[0030] Furthermore, the method also includes a step of evaluating the concentration of mice, which is achieved by calculating the pupil diameter change rate (R_p), and the calculation formula is: R_p=((D2-D1) / D1)×100%, where D1 is the pupil diameter of the mouse in the initial state, and D2 is the pupil diameter of the mouse after external stimulation. This formula compares the changes in pupil diameter before and after stimulation, and multiplies the ratio of the change to the initial diameter by 100% to obtain the pupil diameter change rate. It can intuitively reflect the changes in the concentration of mice when facing stimulation. The greater the change in pupil diameter, the more significant the change in concentration may be.

[0031] The specific experimental process is as follows: (I) Experimental preparation stage; Select appropriate mice: Select healthy, active mice of similar age and breed to reduce the impact of individual differences on the experimental results; Install the head-mounted camera system 1 and the head-mounted gyroscope 2 on the head of the mouse, ensuring that they are firmly fixed and do not cause discomfort to the mouse, adjust the position of the equipment so that it can accurately capture the eye and head movements of the mouse, connect the data processing and analysis module, ensure that the communication between the various devices is normal, debug the stimulus generation system, check the functions of the programmable light source and sound generator, and ensure that stimulation signals of various intensities, frequencies and durations can be generated according to the preset program; (ii) Adaptation period: Place the mice with the equipment installed in the experimental environment and allow them to adapt for a period of time (e.g., 30 minutes). During this period, no external stimulation is applied and only the natural behavior and physiological state of the mice are recorded as control data for subsequent experiments. (III) Stimulation period: Light stimulation: using a programmable light source for instantaneous light irradiation stimulation, each stimulation lasts for a certain period of time, and the next stimulation is performed after a certain interval; during the stimulation process, using a head-mounted camera system 1 and a head-mounted gyroscope 2 to record the eye movement and head movement data of the mouse; Sound stimulation: emit sharp high-frequency sounds and deep low-frequency sounds. The intensity, frequency and duration of the sound stimulation can be adjusted according to experimental requirements. The relevant data of the mice are also recorded during the stimulation process. Air blowing stimulation: Press the ear washing bulb to blow air to the mouse's face through the hose, blowing to the mouse's face / beard and other parts, with the air outlet about 3 cm away from the mouse's face, so as to give the mouse tactile stimulation; (IV) Recovery period: Stop all external stimulation and let the mice rest in the experimental environment for a period of time (e.g., 15 minutes). Observe the behavior and physiological state of the mice and record the process of their recovery to normal state. The data are as follows: Figure 2 , Figure 3 as well as Figure 5-Figure 11 As shown; (V) Data analysis stage: The recorded data is transmitted to the data processing and analysis module for real-time or offline analysis. The mouse eye movement velocity (V_e), head rotation angular velocity (ω_h) and pupil diameter change rate (R_p) are calculated according to the calculation formula; the eye movement and head movement characteristics of the mouse when facing external significant stimuli are analyzed to evaluate its bottom-up attention response.

[0032] In the present invention, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", "connected", "fixed" and the like should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral one; it can be a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or communication with each other; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, it can be the internal connection of two elements or the interaction relationship between two elements, unless otherwise clearly defined. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0033] Obviously, the embodiments described above are only some embodiments of the present invention, rather than all embodiments. The preferred embodiments of the present invention are given in the accompanying drawings, but they do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. The present invention can be implemented in many different forms. On the contrary, the purpose of providing these embodiments is to make the understanding of the disclosure of the present invention more thorough and comprehensive. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, for those skilled in the art, it is still possible to modify the technical solutions recorded in the aforementioned specific implementation methods, or to replace some of the technical features therein with equivalents. Any equivalent structure made using the contents of the specification and drawings of the present invention, directly or indirectly used in other related technical fields, is also within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bottom-up attention detection system for mice, characterized in that: include: A head-mounted camera system (1), wherein the head-mounted camera system (1) is installed on the head of a freely moving mouse during detection to monitor and evaluate relevant indicators of attention shift in real time; A head-mounted gyroscope (2) is used to detect the head movement of the mouse to capture its response to external salient stimuli; Stimulus generation system, the stimulus generation system is used to provide a variety of significant sensory stimuli to mice.

2. A mouse bottom-up attention detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The system also includes a data processing and analysis module, which is connected to the head-mounted camera system (1), the head-mounted gyroscope (2) and the stimulus generation system, and is used to receive data from the head-mounted camera system (1) and the head-mounted gyroscope (2), and perform real-time or offline analysis to determine the eye movement and head movement characteristics of the mouse when facing external significant stimuli, so as to evaluate its bottom-up attention response.

3. A mouse bottom-up attention detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Relevant indicators for evaluating attention shift include eye movements, pupil changes and head movements of mice.

4. A mouse bottom-up attention detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: Sensory stimulation included sudden light changes, sound stimulation, and air puff stimulation to induce bottom-up attention shifting responses in mice.

5. A mouse bottom-up attention detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The head-mounted camera system (1) uses a high-speed camera to accurately capture the subtle changes in the mouse's eye movements, including the trajectory, speed and acceleration of the eye movements.

6. A mouse bottom-up attention detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The stimulation generation system includes a programmable light source, a sound generator and an ear-washing bulb to simulate significant sensory stimulation.

7. A method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice, using the bottom-up attention detection system of mice according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: include: A stimulus generation system is used to apply significant sensory stimulation to mice; a head-mounted camera system (1) and a head-mounted gyroscope (2) are used to record the eye movement and head movement data of the mice; the recorded data are transmitted to a data processing and analysis module for real-time or offline analysis; and based on the analysis results, the bottom-up attention characteristics and response patterns of the mice when facing external significant stimulation are evaluated.

8. A method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice according to claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes calculating the mouse eye movement velocity (V_e), the calculation formula is: V_e=(sqrt((x2-x1)^2+(y2-y1)^2)) / Δt; Where (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are the coordinates of the mouse eye position at two different moments, and Δt is the time interval between the two moments.

9. The method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice according to claim 7, characterized in that: It also includes calculating the angular velocity of the mouse head rotation (ω_h), and the calculation formula is: ω_h=(θ2-θ1) / Δt; Where θ1 and θ2 are the rotation angles of the mouse's head at two different moments, and Δt is the time interval between the two moments.

10. A method for detecting bottom-up attention of mice according to claim 7, characterized in that: The method also includes a step of evaluating the concentration of mice, which is achieved by calculating the pupil diameter change rate (R_p), and the calculation formula is: R_p=((D2-D1) / D1)×100%, where D1 is the pupil diameter of the mouse in the initial state, and D2 is the pupil diameter of the mouse after being subjected to external stimulation.

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