MARGO

MARGO is a MATLAB-based software suite for real-time tracking large numbers of animals in parallel, enabling high-throughput behavioral experiments. It offers fast and accurate tracking capabilities, making it suitable for monitoring animals over extended periods, particularly when spatially separated, such as in multiwell plates.

One of the key features of MARGO is its ability to control peripheral hardware, allowing for closed-loop delivery of stimuli to multiple individuals simultaneously. The software's flexible architecture enables users to define custom experimental routines, making it adaptable to various research needs.

The authors demonstrate MARGO's capabilities through three custom behavioral assays: measuring phototaxis, optomotor response, and an optogenetic operant conditioning assay. These examples highlight the software's potential for coordinating tracking and hardware control in real time.