The PhenoSys SpeedBelt is meticulously designed to allow researchers to study awake animals moving naturally. By providing full control over the animal’s forward movement, it finds its usage in studies demanding accurate speed measurement and controlled linear progression.
The SpeedBelt excels as an input device for our Virtual Reality systems. It accurately translates the animal’s physical locomotion into synchronized movements within the virtual world, creating highly immersive and reproducible experimental conditions. Requiring minimal animal training, the SpeedBelt streamlines research workflows and facilitates the collection of robust data on motor control, learning, and decision-making. Its compact design also allows seamless integration with electrophysiology, advanced imaging, and optogenetic techniques.
Features
Replacement Belts
Add-on to virtual reality JetBall
Dual-screen virtual reality add-on
Retractable liquid reward system
Key Benefits
Seamless Integration & Flexible Design
Compact, Modular & Versatile: Seamlessly integrates with methods like electrophysiology, imaging, and optogenetics; functions as a stand-alone treadmill or a precise input device for VR systems like Jetball.
Adjustable: Features adjustable height, tilt, and belt tension, allowing precise alignment with your experimental setup and comfortable positioning for the animal.
Precision & Performance
Smooth and Stable Movement: Combines low-friction support with high-quality ball bearings for effortless motion, while providing a stable surface to promote natural gait and minimize experimental variability.
Reliable Optical Motion Sensor: Provides accurate and real-time speed measurements, with both USB output for direct data logging and an analog speed output (BNC 0-5V)
User Convenience & Durability
Easily Changeable Belt: The treadmill belt is simple to replace, ensuring continuous operation and easy maintenance.
Robust Construction: Built for sustained performance in demanding research environments, guaranteeing long-term reliability.
Applications
Voluntary Running Behavior
Precisely measure individual locomotor activity, running speeds, and endurance in controlled linear environments.
Gait Analysis & Motor Control
Conduct detailed studies on running patterns, coordination, and the neural mechanisms underlying locomotion.
Virtual Navigation & Path Integration
Investigate how animals learn to navigate linear paths in virtual reality, and how they integrate sensory and motor cues to estimate their position.
Studying Cognitive Functions
Facilitate a broad range of paradigms involving navigation, cognition, learning, and memory, where precise forward movement is a key parameter.
Habituation & Training
Effectively habituate and train animals for more complex PhenoSys JetBall VR experiments or other head-fixed setups.
Publications
Featured in peer-reviewed studies across leading neuroscience journals.
Nuri Jeong, Xiao Zheng, Abigail L. Paulson, Stephanie M. Prince, Victor P. Nguyen, Sherina R. Thomas, Caroline E. Gilpin, Matthew C. Goodsob, Annabelle C. Singer. Goal-specific hippocampal inhibition gates learning. Nature (2025).
Journal : Nature, 634(8034), 652–659, 2025
DOI : 10.1038/s41586-025-08868-5
Stefan Stamenkovic, Franca Schmid, Nicolas Weitermann, Kevin Takasaki, Stephanie K. Bonney, Maria J. Sosa, Yuandong Li, Hannah C. Bennett, Yongsoo Kim, Jack Waters, Andy Y. Shih (2024) Impaired drainage through capillary-venous networks contributes to age-related white matter loss. bioRxiv 2024.02.11.579849.
Journal : bioRxiv (Preprint), 2024.02.11.579849, 2024
DOI : 10.1101/2024.02.11.579849
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