pyControl GridMaze Bridge (Pack of 10)

Founding developer Thomas Akam

$99.00 USD

Founding developer Thomas Akam

Thomas Akam is a neuroscientist at the Oxford University Department of Experimental Psychology. He is the lead developer of the @pyControl and @pyPhotometry open source projects. His work links computational accounts of flexible behaviour with large-scale behavioural experiments and neural recording and manipulation approaches, including silicon-probe electrophysiology, fiber photometry, and optogenetics. In this context, pyControl is not merely an experiment-control package, but part of a broader effort to make complex behavioural neuroscience more scalable, transparent, and reproducible.

The pyControl GridMaze is an open and modular behavioral testing system designed for experiments with freely moving rodents. Built around the open-source pyControl framework, the system enables automated execution of behavioral tasks with precise control of stimuli, rewards, and event timing. The GridMaze is particularly suited for studies involving spatial navigation, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility. It can also be combined with external recording systems such as imaging setups or cameras.

Its unique design of removable bridges allows rapid reconfiguration of the spatial maze layout. Removable bridge modules define the interconnections between towers and enable rapid reconfiguration of the maze’s spatial layout.

EXPERIMENTAL CAPABILITIES

The removable pyControl GridMaze Bridge connects individual GridMaze towers and can be added or removed quickly to modify the available pathways. It is ideal for creating flexible, reconfigurable maze configurations to suit different experimental designs.

KEY FEATURES

Flat acrylic walking surface
High side walls to help keep mice securely on the bridge
Removable design for quick and easy installation
Suitable for replacement or maze expansion
Bridge dimensions: 80 mm (L) × 45 mm (W)
Side wall dimensions: 36 mm (L) × 15 mm (H)

10 × acrylic bridges with side walls

PUBLICATION

Mohamady El-Gaby, Adam Loyd Harris, James C. R. Whittington, William Dorrell, Arya Bhomick, Mark E. Walton, Thomas Akam & Timothy E. J. Behrens (2024). A cellular basis for mapping behavioural structure. Nature.

Michael Pereira, Beatriz S. Godinho, Christian K. Machens, Rui M. Costa, Thomas Akam (2026). Flexible route planning and rapid structure learning by mice in complex environments. bioRxiv

Peter T. Doohan, Kristopher T. Jensen, Yaqing Chen, Beatriz S. Godinho, Charles D. G. Burns, Chongyu (Xiao) Qin, Josie L. Emery, Ryan J. Cini, Mark E. Walton, Timothy E. J. Behrens, Thomas E. Akam (2026). Structured and flexible representations in medial-frontal cortex support goal-directed navigation. bioRxiv

Thomas Akam, Andy Lustig, James M Rowland, Sampath KT Kapanaiah, Joan Esteve-Agraz, Mariangela Panniello, Cristina Márquez, Michael M Kohl, Dennis Kätzel, Rui M Costa, Mark E Walton (2022). pyControl: Open source, Python-based hardware and software for controlling behavioural neuroscience experiments. eLife.

Documentation Source Code