Protocol

IBL visual decision task

Head-fixed mice report the side of a visual grating stimulus by turning a wheel to bring the stimulus to the center. Contrast and blockwise prior probability manipulate sensory and value-related evidence.

Task structure

Stimulus, choice, feedback, and training as declared in the protocol record.

Stimulus

evidence_schedule: Grating appears on the left or right at variable contrast; sessions can include blockwise changes in prior probability.
evidence_type: mixed
modalities: visual
notes: This record deliberately separates stimulus contrast from prior probability because both can influence choice.
units: percent contrast
variables: contrast, stimulus side, block prior probability

Choice

action_mapping: Wheel turns move the visual stimulus toward the center; the rewarded turn direction depends on stimulus side.
alternatives: left, right
choice_type: 2afc
notes: —
response_modalities: wheel

Feedback

feedback_type: mixed
notes: —
penalty: Noise burst and longer inter-trial interval for incorrect decisions.
reward: Sweetened water for correct decisions.

Training

notes: Standardized IBL training stages should be captured in a deeper version.
stages: shaping, visual discrimination, biased blocks

Trial timing

quiescence

variable, approximately 0.4-0.7 s in the standardized task

Mouse holds the wheel still before trial start.
go_cue

brief auditory event

Auditory cue announces the response period.
stimulus_and_response

response-limited

Visual grating is displayed and coupled to wheel movement.
feedback

outcome-dependent

Vertical slices

IBL Brainwide Map Behavior available
IBL Visual Decision available

Expected analyses

psychometric curve by contrast and prior block
chronometric curve by contrast
lapse, bias, and threshold estimates
history-dependent choice model

Interpretive claims

perceptual decision-making

Confidence: high · ref.ibl-2021-standardized

The protocol also intentionally manipulates prior probability and learned value, so records should not reduce it to sensory evidence alone.

Open questions

Extend Brainwide Map curation from behavior trials to probe insertions, brain regions, spike-sorting QC, and video pose features.
Split biased and unbiased variants if the schema needs finer protocol granularity.

Papers

Findings

Curves attached to this protocol on shared signed-evidence axes.

The International Brain Laboratory et al. Standardized and reproducible measurement of decision-making in mice. eLife, 2021, 10:e63711. · psychometric · p_left=0.2 processed-trial
The International Brain Laboratory et al. Standardized and reproducible measurement of decision-making in mice. eLife, 2021, 10:e63711. · psychometric · p_left=0.5 processed-trial
The International Brain Laboratory et al. Standardized and reproducible measurement of decision-making in mice. eLife, 2021, 10:e63711. · psychometric · p_left=0.8 processed-trial
The International Brain Laboratory et al. A brain-wide map of neural activity during complex behaviour. Nature 645:177-191, 2025. · psychometric processed-trial
The International Brain Laboratory et al. Brain-wide representations of prior information in mouse decision-making. Nature 645:192-200, 2025. · psychometric · p_left=0.2 processed-trial
The International Brain Laboratory et al. Brain-wide representations of prior information in mouse decision-making. Nature 645:192-200, 2025. · psychometric · p_left=0.5 processed-trial
The International Brain Laboratory et al. Brain-wide representations of prior information in mouse decision-making. Nature 645:192-200, 2025. · psychometric · p_left=0.8 processed-trial

See all findings overlaid on shared axes.