Treffer: RetINaBox: A Hands-On Learning Tool for Experimental Neuroscience.
Title:
RetINaBox: A Hands-On Learning Tool for Experimental Neuroscience.
Authors:
Bettler B; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada., Arias Armas F; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada., Cianfarano E; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.; Mila, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3H1, Canada., Bordonaro V; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada., Liu MQ; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada., Loukine M; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.; Mila, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3H1, Canada., Wan M; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada., Villemain A; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada., Richards BA; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.; Mila, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3H1, Canada.; School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada.; Learning in Machines and Brains Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1M1, Canada., Trenholm S; Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada stuart.trenholm@mcgill.ca.
Source:
ENeuro [eNeuro] 2026 Jan 12; Vol. 13 (1). Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jan 12 (Print Publication: 2026).
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Society for Neuroscience Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101647362 Publication Model: Electronic-Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 2373-2822 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 23732822 NLM ISO Abbreviation: eNeuro Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: [Washington, DC] : Society for Neuroscience, [2014]-
MeSH Terms:
References:
J Physiol. 1961 Feb;155:385-98. (PMID: 13716436)
J Neurophysiol. 1982 May;47(5):928-47. (PMID: 6177841)
J Physiol. 1971 Apr;214(2):265-94. (PMID: 5579638)
J Physiol. 1968 Mar;195(1):215-43. (PMID: 4966457)
Annu Rev Neurosci. 2008;31:389-410. (PMID: 18558861)
J Neurophysiol. 2022 Nov 1;128(5):1337-1343. (PMID: 36288938)
Prog Retin Eye Res. 2000 Nov;19(6):711-77. (PMID: 11029553)
J Physiol. 1959 Oct;148:574-91. (PMID: 14403679)
eNeuro. 2017 Mar 17;4(2):. (PMID: 28321440)
J Physiol. 2006 Oct 1;576(Pt 1):197-202. (PMID: 16901944)
J Neurophysiol. 1965 Mar;28:229-89. (PMID: 14283058)
Science. 1981 Jan 9;211(4478):182-5. (PMID: 6255566)
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2020 Dec;21(12):695-716. (PMID: 33144718)
Science. 1976 Oct 8;194(4261):193-5. (PMID: 959847)
J Physiol. 1953 Jan;119(1):69-88. (PMID: 13035718)
J Neurophysiol. 1969 May;32(3):339-55. (PMID: 4306897)
Exp Brain Res. 1970;10(3):311-30. (PMID: 4315066)
J Physiol. 1927 Sep 9;63(4):378-414. (PMID: 16993896)
Eye (Lond). 1998;12 ( Pt 3b):531-40. (PMID: 9775214)
J Physiol. 1962 Jan;160:106-54. (PMID: 14449617)
Neuron. 2001 Jun;30(3):771-80. (PMID: 11430810)
J Physiol. 1964 Oct;173:377-407. (PMID: 14220259)
J Physiol. 1965 Jun;178(3):477-504. (PMID: 5827909)
Neuron. 2016 Jan 6;89(1):177-93. (PMID: 26711119)
Nat Commun. 2022 May 23;13(1):2862. (PMID: 35606344)
Annu Rev Neurosci. 2017 Jul 25;40:211-230. (PMID: 28418757)
Nature. 1996 Jun 13;381(6583):607-9. (PMID: 8637596)
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2020 Mar;206(2):109-124. (PMID: 31691093)
Vision Res. 1972 Feb;12(2):183-93. (PMID: 5033683)
Nature. 2023 Nov;623(7986):381-386. (PMID: 37880369)
Nature. 1986 Aug 28-Sep 3;322(6082):824-5. (PMID: 3748169)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Mar 31;95(7):4002-6. (PMID: 9520482)
Nature. 2017 Jun 22;546(7659):492-497. (PMID: 28607486)
J Neurophysiol. 1953 Jan;16(1):37-68. (PMID: 13035466)
J Neurosci. 2020 Jan 2;40(1):44-53. (PMID: 31896562)
Nature. 2016 Jan 21;529(7586):345-50. (PMID: 26735013)
Vision Res. 2004;44(17):2083-9. (PMID: 15149839)
J Physiol. 1967 Feb;188(3):285-307. (PMID: 6032202)
J Physiol. 2005 Feb 1;562(Pt 3):915-23. (PMID: 15564281)
J Neurosci. 2017 Jan 18;37(3):648-659. (PMID: 28100746)
J Neurosci Methods. 2010 Oct 30;193(1):62-6. (PMID: 20705096)
J Neurosci. 2016 Mar 16;36(11):3208-21. (PMID: 26985031)
J Neurophysiol. 1982 May;47(5):928-47. (PMID: 6177841)
J Physiol. 1971 Apr;214(2):265-94. (PMID: 5579638)
J Physiol. 1968 Mar;195(1):215-43. (PMID: 4966457)
Annu Rev Neurosci. 2008;31:389-410. (PMID: 18558861)
J Neurophysiol. 2022 Nov 1;128(5):1337-1343. (PMID: 36288938)
Prog Retin Eye Res. 2000 Nov;19(6):711-77. (PMID: 11029553)
J Physiol. 1959 Oct;148:574-91. (PMID: 14403679)
eNeuro. 2017 Mar 17;4(2):. (PMID: 28321440)
J Physiol. 2006 Oct 1;576(Pt 1):197-202. (PMID: 16901944)
J Neurophysiol. 1965 Mar;28:229-89. (PMID: 14283058)
Science. 1981 Jan 9;211(4478):182-5. (PMID: 6255566)
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2020 Dec;21(12):695-716. (PMID: 33144718)
Science. 1976 Oct 8;194(4261):193-5. (PMID: 959847)
J Physiol. 1953 Jan;119(1):69-88. (PMID: 13035718)
J Neurophysiol. 1969 May;32(3):339-55. (PMID: 4306897)
Exp Brain Res. 1970;10(3):311-30. (PMID: 4315066)
J Physiol. 1927 Sep 9;63(4):378-414. (PMID: 16993896)
Eye (Lond). 1998;12 ( Pt 3b):531-40. (PMID: 9775214)
J Physiol. 1962 Jan;160:106-54. (PMID: 14449617)
Neuron. 2001 Jun;30(3):771-80. (PMID: 11430810)
J Physiol. 1964 Oct;173:377-407. (PMID: 14220259)
J Physiol. 1965 Jun;178(3):477-504. (PMID: 5827909)
Neuron. 2016 Jan 6;89(1):177-93. (PMID: 26711119)
Nat Commun. 2022 May 23;13(1):2862. (PMID: 35606344)
Annu Rev Neurosci. 2017 Jul 25;40:211-230. (PMID: 28418757)
Nature. 1996 Jun 13;381(6583):607-9. (PMID: 8637596)
J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol. 2020 Mar;206(2):109-124. (PMID: 31691093)
Vision Res. 1972 Feb;12(2):183-93. (PMID: 5033683)
Nature. 2023 Nov;623(7986):381-386. (PMID: 37880369)
Nature. 1986 Aug 28-Sep 3;322(6082):824-5. (PMID: 3748169)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Mar 31;95(7):4002-6. (PMID: 9520482)
Nature. 2017 Jun 22;546(7659):492-497. (PMID: 28607486)
J Neurophysiol. 1953 Jan;16(1):37-68. (PMID: 13035466)
J Neurosci. 2020 Jan 2;40(1):44-53. (PMID: 31896562)
Nature. 2016 Jan 21;529(7586):345-50. (PMID: 26735013)
Vision Res. 2004;44(17):2083-9. (PMID: 15149839)
J Physiol. 1967 Feb;188(3):285-307. (PMID: 6032202)
J Physiol. 2005 Feb 1;562(Pt 3):915-23. (PMID: 15564281)
J Neurosci. 2017 Jan 18;37(3):648-659. (PMID: 28100746)
J Neurosci Methods. 2010 Oct 30;193(1):62-6. (PMID: 20705096)
J Neurosci. 2016 Mar 16;36(11):3208-21. (PMID: 26985031)
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: center-surround; direction selectivity; discovery; education and outreach; learning tool; open-source; orientation selectivity; receptive field; visual neuroscience
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20260112 Date Completed: 20260112 Latest Revision: 20260121
Update Code:
20260121
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12813302
DOI:
10.1523/ENEURO.0349-25.2025
PMID:
41526157
Database:
MEDLINE
Weitere Informationen
An exciting aspect of neuroscience is developing and testing hypotheses via experimentation. However, due to logistical and financial hurdles, the experiment and discovery component of neuroscience is generally lacking in classroom and outreach settings. To address this issue, here we introduce RetINaBox: a low-cost open-source electronic visual system simulator that provides users with a hands-on tool to discover how the visual system builds feature detectors. RetINaBox includes an LED array for generating visual stimuli and photodiodes that act as an array of model photoreceptors. Custom software on a Raspberry Pi computer reads out responses from model photoreceptors and allows users to control the polarity and delay of the signal transfer from model photoreceptors to model retinal ganglion cells. Interactive lesson plans are provided, guiding users to discover different types of visual feature detectors-including ON/OFF, center-surround, orientation-selective, and direction-selective receptive fields-as well as their underlying circuit computations.
(Copyright © 2026 Bettler et al.)
The authors declare no competing financial interests.