Prototype a function for computing thigmotaxis index in `movement`

[niksirbi]

Idea description

In rodent behavioural neuroscience, thigmotaxis — the tendency to stay close to the walls of an open arena — is a classic measure of anxiety-like behaviour in the open field test (OFT).

We’d like to develop a function in movement that computes a thigmotaxis index given a position data array, a region of interest representing the arena walls, and user-defined options for what counts as “centre” and “periphery.”

For full details, see issue #649.

Within the time constraints of the hackday, our goal is to create a prototype implementation — ideally resulting in a draft pull request to the movement repository. This prototype could start as an example or a Jupyter notebook, with the aim of finalising the feature after the hackday for inclusion in a release.

This project is well suited to participants keen to gain experience contributing to an open-source project on GitHub.

What skills are needed to tackle the project

• Basic Python proficiency and familiarity with its core scientific computing libraries (NumPy, Pandas, Jupyter)
• Familiarity with the movement package's scope and core features, e.g. through using it or taking part in the "Animal In Motion" course.
• Some knowledge with rodent behaviour is desired by not essential

Would you be willing to lead this project?

• Yes!

[niksirbi]

Worked on by @ewgrace, @agholivand, @elikram101
See draft PR here: neuroinformatics-unit/movement#656