Virtual reality for animals

Austrian and German researchers have created a virtual reality system for animals Freemovr. This is a special space, which is an arena surrounded by monitors, immersed in a virtual space.

As objects for the experiments, individuals of mice, drosophiles and zebrafish were used. Each group of animals was placed in turn into a virtual space, where it could move freely within a limited territory. High-speed cameras displayed their synchronized movements and created the illusion of the presence of other individuals in the immediate vicinity.

The first to come under the experiment were the danio fish. The aquarium in which they were placed was surrounded by the heroes of the game Space Invaders. Three-dimensional images and their constant movement "convinced" danios that individuals are real. As a result, the fish began to attempt to adapt to the movement in the flock, along with their new neighbors.

The following experience involved mice.They were placed on the track, under which was located the screen with patterns. The chess cells of the pattern were combined in such a way that it seemed as if a part of the segment was higher and the other was lower. As a result, the animals that fell under the experiment diligently avoided the higher parts of their route in the same way as if such an obstacle were real.

Insects of Drosophila were similarly placed in conditions with the obstacles around them and behaved in a similar way - they tried to fly around the obstacles, considering them to be real.

Scientists were satisfied with the experiment, since their main task - understanding the nature of the behavior of animals in space and interaction with their own kind, was solved. However, the conditions created for conducting experiments were not ideal in many aspects. For example, the equipment used is not able to transmit polarized light used by many species for orientation when moving. Experts expect to improve the virtual space in the near future and repeat the experiments.