由於資訊科技的發展，促使虛擬實境技術得以應用於手術過程的模擬、復健治療訓練及認知神經科學的研究上。然而，現有動物行為研究的設備，包括各式迷宮系統及獎勵裝置，由於體積龐大，系統結構較不精細及欠缺可塑性等，尤其很難在動物實驗的過程中獲得較多可定量的動態或神經電訊號的紀錄。部分的研究中已証實可以藉由獎勵裝置以及虛擬場景之視覺提示的方式來研究動物的行為，包括注意歷程、空間記憶、執行功能等之。
本研究開發一個具有沈浸式虛擬實境的動物試驗記錄箱。在此，容許我們於一個局限的環境中，對於動物的刺激反應及互動進行觀察及測量。我們整合半球虛擬實境投影設備來顯示虛擬景象，同時設計動作偵測子系統來感應動物之自主意識動作狀態，能夠獲得偵測。在我們自行設計的動物實驗箱中，允許半球形螢幕一維pitch轉動以確保在實驗中動物位於視覺最佳位置。藉由動物的行為動作擷取系統所偵測之訊號如上下及左右移動，讓實驗動物與虛擬實境影像作互動，並透過TCP/IP的網路傳輸方式，來傳遞這些互動訊號。實驗中的動物行為可利用背後的攝影機來進行監控，且進行影像與偵測訊號的同步。在動物行為與視覺互動的基礎下，所發展的虛擬實境系統能夠被執行在動物行為研究的驗證測試。

Recent developments in information technology have facilitated the use of virtual reality (VR) techniques for simulation surgery, rehabilitation training, and cognitive neuroscience studies. However, current animal behavior facilities, including various kinds of maze and awarding devices are rather bulky, primitive design, and lack of flexibilities which are extremely difficult to record the neural activities during their animal experiment. Several VR studies have demonstrated its feasibility for animals to interact with VR by using rewarding scheme and visual cues for attention processes, spatial memory, and executive functions. This study aimed to develop an animal behavior testing environment with immersive VR which allowed us to interact with the animal responses to the stimulations in a limited space. We integrated the dome screen for displaying visual stimuli and a motion detection subsystem for sensing the animal’s intention. In our self-design animal cage, the front hemisphere screen connected the outer cage in one-degree-of-freedom for pitch rotating to ensure the animal was constrained at optimal view point during the experiment. The intentions of animal were detected by body position sensing device, which sent rotation and yaw angles via TCP/IP transmission to alter VR generation. A camera was mounted behind and slightly above the animal which allowed experimenter to observe the locomotion of rat and to synchronize the recording of brain activity. Validation tests of animal behaviors on the developed VR system were performed based on the visual interaction to the animal behavioral studies.

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