CapTouch

Kasey Spry and colleagues have created capacitive sensing objects for accurate measurement of interaction time during object recognition tasks.

Novel object recognition tasks are commonly used to study learning and memory in preclinical research. The most common protocols for these tasks involve expensive video tracking that may lack reliability or manual scoring that is time consuming. CapTouch solves these issues by automating the scoring process using low-cost capacitive sensors, while also providing validated 3D-printed objects in order to standardize object recognition across labs. CapTouch comes in two versions. Version 1.0 uses conductive 3D printer filament that acts as one plate of a capacitor while the animal acts as the second plate. The distance from the object to the animal alters the capacitance created between them allowing for the animal’s presence to be sensed. Version 2.0 is a lower cost alternative that uses normal 3D-printer filament to print hollow objects that have copper foil tape placed inside to act as the capacitive sensor instead.

CapTouch is a great alternative to commercial based tracking for object recognition tasks that is low-cost and provides standardization across experiments and labs.

This research tool was created by your colleagues. Please acknowledge the Principal Investigator, cite the article in which the tool was described, and include an RRID in the Materials and Methods of your future publications.  RRID:SCR_021488