A wireless modular platform for neuro-behavioral recording and closed-loop manipulation in small animals.

WILD enables long-term, multimodal neural and behavioral recordings with real-time closed-loop interventions in freely moving mice, overcoming previous technological limitations.

• Why it matters: Understanding naturalistic social behaviors in small animals is limited by current tethered or constrained wireless systems that lack long-term, multimodal, and closed-loop capabilities.
• What they did: The study developed WILD, a lightweight, wireless platform integrating neural probes, optogenetics, inertial sensors, microphones, and cameras, capable of real-time signal processing and behavioral detection in groups of mice.
• The result: WILD allows simultaneous, long-term recording of neural activity, locomotion, vocalizations, and eye movements, enabling detailed investigation of neural mechanisms underlying diverse natural behaviors.