Abstract
We and others have built new tools for 3D behaviour quantification using multiple cameras (e.g., DANNCE, Anipose). I will present our new approach for multi-animal 3D tracking and social behaviour analysis in rats, which we have used to profile genetic models of autism. I will also present our recent efforts to simplify and standardize 3D tracking by designing a new single-camera, mirror-based acquisition system. This system has significantly increased the throughput of 3D mouse data collection, allowing us to profile how a range of drugs, diseases, and chemogenetic perturbations affect the spontaneous behavioural repertoire. As an example, I will highlight how we have used the system to resolve previously undetectable motor deficits in a genetic model of Parkinson’s disease.
Biography
Tim Dunn is an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Duke University. His goal is to understand the neural basis of natural behavior, which he has supported by developing technologies for high-resolution movement quantification in individuals and social groups. Tim was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, USA. He graduated with a BA in Molecular and Cell Biology from UC Berkeley in 2008 and a PhD in Neurobiology from Harvard University in 2015. Tim received a McKnight Foundation Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award in 2021.