The system combines 64-channel neural recording with an inertial movement unit for motion tracking, a micro-camera for monitoring pupil dynamics and an ultrasonic microphone for recording animal vocalizations, with all data streams synchronized. An efficient microcontroller and signal acquisition pipeline reduce power use while supporting longer recordings and onboard machine learning for real-time event detection. The system can also trigger closed-loop optogenetic stimulation with sub-millisecond latency and synchronize recordings across multiple animals and external devices.
The platform simultaneously recorded neural activity and multiple behavioural signals from groups of mice during unrestricted social interactions. Using probes implanted in the hippocampus and lateral septum, the authors identified distinct patterns of neural activity, pupil dynamics and vocalizations associated with different social behaviours. Ultrasonic vocalization rates correlated with increased pupil size, and vocalization generation was associated with a distinct hippocampal state.
The system also enabled long-term neural and behavioural recordings from rodents living freely in large outdoor enclosures. In one experiment, nine mice carrying the devices lived for 15 days in a 38 × 15 m enclosure, where their movements and hippocampal activity were tracked. The recordings revealed clear circadian patterns in movement and sleep.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout Nature Sensors https://www.nature.com/natsensors/ Sun, F. Probing neural activity during natural behaviour in small animals. Sens. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44460-026-00153-w DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44460-026-00153-w
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