Animals thinking inside a virtual world can help us understand what can go wrong in the brain.

The method overcomes a problem: an instrument focused on a single neuron will be knocked out of alignment by the slightest shake. That means we can only study individual neurons in an animal that cannot move and is therefore unable to behave normally.

Virtual reality (VR) technology offers a solution — a way for animals to explore a simulated world while remaining rooted to the spot..

Note: the New Scientist article is available online free until March 19.