An Investigation in the Rat Whisking System in the Context of Mechanical Engineering
Session Number
ENGN 12
Advisor(s)
Mitra Hartmann, Northwestern University
Discipline
Engineering
Start Date
17-4-2024 10:25 AM
End Date
17-4-2024 10:40 AM
Abstract
To further understand the neurological process of rat whisking this study utilizes a combination of projects, both computational and mechanical, in order to better understand the rat whisking system. Rat whiskers display an incredible ability to detect objects through contortion and contact, which send mechanical signals that help the rat process their surroundings. A series of videos of two different rats interacting with circular and square objects were taken by a partner lab, and MATLAB was used to individually track and label the whiskers in the C row. Through a subsequent series of MATLAB programs, the whiskers’ movements were tracked and labeled, and forces at the base of the whisker were computed. Additionally, through several stages of mechanical modeling, whisking was simulated and the models’ performance was assessed.
An Investigation in the Rat Whisking System in the Context of Mechanical Engineering
To further understand the neurological process of rat whisking this study utilizes a combination of projects, both computational and mechanical, in order to better understand the rat whisking system. Rat whiskers display an incredible ability to detect objects through contortion and contact, which send mechanical signals that help the rat process their surroundings. A series of videos of two different rats interacting with circular and square objects were taken by a partner lab, and MATLAB was used to individually track and label the whiskers in the C row. Through a subsequent series of MATLAB programs, the whiskers’ movements were tracked and labeled, and forces at the base of the whisker were computed. Additionally, through several stages of mechanical modeling, whisking was simulated and the models’ performance was assessed.