Neuroscientists at Princeton created a new way to study the neurons of the classic mouse-in-a-maze: Strap it to a suspended ball and have it run through a virtual maze. That first virtual maze? Derived from a Quake 2 level.
Apparently it’s difficult to control and study the neurons of a mouse when it’s physically moving, and this method makes that easier. The ball is suspended on a jet of air, and the mouse is strapped in place with a collar on top of it (like a giant trackball, sort of). Given that I don’t understand psychology at all, or even totally know what a neuron is, I’m going to go ahead and assume that this is an elaborate ruse to get a mouse to play Quake 2. Well played, scientists. [Pop Sci]
Elly Hart
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 10:22 AMTrippy.
Water Bear
Thursday, October 15, 2009 at 3:55 PMhmm, i seem to remember quake 2 differently.
Tycus
Friday, October 16, 2009 at 9:14 AMAlso this mouse just runs around in circles, possibly due to the cruel collar thing that basically makes it look like if it stops running it hangs itself, nice guys.
Railroad Stone
Friday, October 16, 2009 at 4:06 PMI could totally pwn that n00b!