Precisely controlled visual stimulation to study experience-dependent neural plasticity in Xenopus tadpoles

Abstract

Summary: Studies on visual experience-dependent plasticity can benefit tremendously from experimental protocols in which sensory stimulation is precisely controlled for extended periods over which neuronal, circuit, and behavioral plasticity occurs. Small vertebrates, such as Xenopus tadpoles and zebrafish, are excellent systems for studying brain plasticity. Here, we present a detailed protocol to perform controlled visual stimulation for extended time periods. These methods have been used to study structural plasticity induced by temporally controlled visual stimulation in Xenopus tadpoles.For further details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Hiramoto and Cline (2014, 2020).

Keywords

• Cell biology
• Microscopy
• Model organisms
• Neuroscience