Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41526157›Full record

ArticleeNeuro2026

RetINaBox: A Hands-On Learning Tool for Experimental Neuroscience.

Brune Bettler, Flavia Arias Armas, Erica Cianfarano, Vanessa Bordonaro, Megan Q Liu, Matthew Loukine, Mingyu Wan, Aude Villemain, Blake A Richards, Stuart Trenholm

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in eNeuro, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Brune BettlerMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Flavia Arias ArmasMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Erica CianfaranoMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3458-9373
Vanessa BordonaroMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Megan Q LiuMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Matthew LoukineMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Mingyu WanMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Aude VillemainMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.
Blake A RichardsMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9662-2151
Stuart TrenholmMontreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2B4, Canada stuart.trenholm@mcgill.ca.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5792-0957

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

An exciting aspect of neuroscience is developing and testing hypotheses via experimentation. However, due to logistical and financial hurdles, the experiment and discovery component of neuroscience is generally lacking in classroom and outreach settings. To address this issue, here we introduce RetINaBox: a low-cost open-source electronic visual system simulator that provides users with a hands-on tool to discover how the visual system builds feature detectors. RetINaBox includes an LED array for generating visual stimuli and photodiodes that act as an array of model photoreceptors. Custom software on a Raspberry Pi computer reads out responses from model photoreceptors and allows users to control the polarity and delay of the signal transfer from model photoreceptors to model retinal ganglion cells. Interactive lesson plans are provided, guiding users to discover different types of visual feature detectors-including ON/OFF, center-surround, orientation-selective, and direction-selective receptive fields-as well as their underlying circuit computations.

Indexed as

Computer SimulationLearningNeurosciencesSoftwareVisual PerceptionAnimalsHumansModels, NeurologicalPhotic StimulationRetinal Ganglion Cellscenter-surrounddirection selectivitydiscoveryeducation and outreachlearning toolopen-sourceorientation selectivityreceptive fieldvisual neuroscience

Identifiers

PMID41526157
PMCPMC12813302

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.