High quality, high throughput, and low-cost simultaneous video recording of 60 animals in operant chambers using PiRATeMC.

Background: The development of Raspberry Pi-based recording devices for video analyses of drug self-administration studies has shown to be promising in terms of affordability, customizability, and capacity to extract in-depth behavioral patterns. Yet, most video recording systems are limited to a few cameras making them incompatible with large-scale studies. New Method: We expanded the PiRATeMC (Pi-based Remote Acquisition Technology for Motion Capture) recording system by increasing its scale, modifying its code, and adding equipment to accommodate large-scale video acquisition, accompanied by data on the throughput capabilities, video fidelity, synchronicity of devices, and comparisons between the Raspberry Pi 3B+ and 4B models. Results: Using PiRATeMC default recording parameters resulted in minimal storage (~350MB/h), high throughput (< ~120 seconds/Pi), high video fidelity, and synchronicity within ~0.02 seconds, affording the ability to simultaneously record 60 animals in individual self-administration chambers at a fraction of current commercial costs. No consequential differences were found between Raspberry Pi 3B+ and 4B models. Comparison with Existing Methods: This system allows greater acquisition of video data simultaneously than other video recording systems by an order of magnitude with less storage needs and lower costs. Additionally, we report in-depth quantitative assessments of throughput, fidelity, and synchronicity, displaying real-time system capabilities. Conclusions: The system presented is able to be fully installed in a month's time by a single technician and provides a scalable, low cost, and quality-assured procedure with a high-degree of customization and synchronicity between recording devices, capable of recording a large number of subjects with high turnover in a variety of species and settings.