Specifications
- U-shaped head fixation assembly, compatible with all our titanium headbars; pitch and translation adjustments for optimal mouse comfort
- 8-inch polystyrene foam ball
- Quiet air delivery system with flexible air pipe; no external air supply needed
- Two brakes to provide unidirectional running
- Free software to display and save speed and accumulated distance in CSV format
- Software-controlled airflow and brakes
- Supports serial commands and is compatible with PsychoPy for seamless integration with existing behavioral protocols
- 0–5 V analog output for X and Y speeds
- Optical IR motion sensor
- Low-profile design fits under a 2-photon microscope (25 cm high)
- Two 40 mm mounting posts, one on each side
- Accessories holder for air-puff or water delivery
- Integrated into our VRLab Suite software for motion within the virtual reality environment
Training Protocol
Proper habituation to the treadmill and VR setup is essential for reducing animal stress. To support your work, explore our free step-by-step training protocols designed to guide the habituation of head-fixed mice on our treadmill and help streamline your experiments.
Virtual Reality Integration
Our spherical treadmill for mice easily integrates with virtual reality setups, providing an efficient tool for behavioral and neural studies. The USB-based interface communicates directly with game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, enabling precise control over virtual characters. As the mouse moves, real-time analog outputs translate into virtual world actions, creating an immersive experience. Moreover, this integration supports sophisticated experiments by linking physical locomotion with digital environments, making it ideal for studying spatial navigation, sensory-motor coordination, and decision-making in controlled virtual settings.
Looking for a Complete Virtual Reality Setup?
Explore our integrated VR solution, which includes tracking systems, stimulation devices, and control software.
Launch the Interactive VR ConfiguratorVisit our VR Solutions PageMaintenance of the Spherical Treadmill for Mice
Case Studies from Our Blog Featuring This Product
Eye Tracking: An Invaluable and Inexpensive Tool in Neuroscience
Almost all animals with good eyesight exhibit a range of eye movements. These movements allow animals to compensate for shifts in the visual scene and to follow objects that move within that scene. Eye movements have been studied since the early 1900s (Land 2006), and today, eye tracking is a ubiquitous tool used not only in neuroscience but also in other areas such as marketing (Gheorghe, Purcărea, and Gheorghe 2023). It is a common technology applied in virtual and augmented reality devices (Jin et al. 2024).
Frequently Asked Questions
Most likely. Our mounts fit most head bars, including our own, available here. If unsure, contact us with dimensions of your head bars and we will confirm.
While the Spherical Treadmill was originally designed for head-fixed mice, we’ve conducted preliminary tests using a custom harness for non-head-fixed setups. These initial trials showed promising results. While further validation may be beneficial depending on your experimental needs, it should be compatible with non-head-fixed mice using an appropriate harness.
Not immediately. Mice need to be gradually habituated to the treadmill to minimize stress and ensure smooth running. Training typically takes up to 5 days. We recommend following our step-by-step habituation and training protocol, available on our Protocol page.
No. The treadmill is fully independent and includes a built-in fan that supports both the ball and the running mouse.
