Specifications
- 8-inch Styrofoam ball
- Quiet air delivery system
- 2 analog outputs (0-5V) for X and Y speed
- Potentiometer-controlled airflow
- 2 brakes to provide unidirectional running
- USB: data, brake control and air flow
- Calibrated for X and Y axes
- Optical IR motion sensor
- Two 40 mm mounting posts, one on each side
- U-shaped head restrainer assembly
- Flexible 1-inch air pipe with ultra-quiet airflow system
- Low-profile design to fit under a microscope
- Accessories holder for air-puff or water delivery
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.
