In a groundbreaking experiment, scientists at Cornell University have developed miniature virtual reality (VR) goggles designed specifically for mice. The innovative device, dubbed MouseGoggles, aims to provide new insights into animal behavior and offer valuable data for studying neurological conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers, led by Matthew Isaacson, utilized low-cost, off-the-shelf components—such as smartwatch displays and small lenses—to create the tiny VR headsets. Once assembled, the goggles were fitted onto the mice to observe how they responded to various virtual environments and stimuli.
The primary goal of the project is to better understand how animals perceive and navigate space, which is key to studying cognitive functions like memory and spatial awareness. These insights could be crucial for developing treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
One of the most effective tests conducted using the MouseGoggles involved tricking the mice into believing an expanding dark blotch was approaching them, simulating the threat of a predator. Unlike previous VR experiments using larger setups, the mice reacted strongly to the virtual danger, displaying startle responses.
“When we tried this kind of test in the typical VR setup with big screens, the mice did not react at all,” said Isaacson, one of the study’s lead authors. “But almost every single mouse, the first time they see it with the goggles, they jump. They have a huge startle reaction. They really did seem to think they were getting attacked by a looming predator.”
The concept of using VR to study animals’ responses to virtual environments is not new. Around a decade ago, Cornell scientists experimented with large, expensive projector setups to study how mice navigated virtual spaces. However, those methods were often clunky and impractical for studying animal behavior on a more precise scale. The new, compact MouseGoggles offer a simpler and more immersive solution.
Isaacson explained that many of the components used to build the goggles were already commercially available. “It definitely benefited from the hacker ethos of taking parts that are built for something else and then applying them to new contexts,” he said. The small display required for the VR goggles was already produced for smartwatch screens, allowing for a cost-effective and efficient build.
By creating these tiny VR goggles, Cornell researchers have opened new possibilities for studying animal cognition in virtual reality. The insights gained could not only advance scientific understanding of memory and navigation but also potentially lead to breakthroughs in treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
