Burgess, C.P. et al. Cell Rep. 20, 2513–2524 (2017).

Despite the notion that mice don't use their visual senses very much, the animals are well suited for studies probing visual perception or decision making. Burgess et al. report an efficient behavioral assay for vision research in mice. The mice sit at a steering wheel and choose between visual stimuli by steering into the direction of the preferred stimulus. Upon the correct choice, the animals are rewarded with water. In the described implementation, the visual stimuli differ in contrast. However, the assay is flexible and can be adapted to the experimental needs. For example, the choice can be forced or unforced; i.e., the mouse has to choose one direction upon a 'go' signal, or it can choose not to go towards one direction in situations such as when there is no perceived difference between the presented stimuli. The behavioral assay can be paired with optogenetic manipulation or calcium imaging in order to probe the circuitry involved in the behavior of interest.