Miniature Fluorescence Microscopy for Imaging Brain Activity in Freely-Behaving Animals
Shiyuan Chen1 • Zichen Wang1 • Dong Zhang2 • Aiming Wang 3,4 • Liangyi Chen 1 • Heping Cheng 1 • Runlong Wu 1
1 State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, PKU-Nanjing Institute of Translational Medicine, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
2 Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Study, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
3 Department of Electronics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
4 State Key Laboratory of Advanced Optical Communication System and Networks, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Abstract
An ultimate goal of neuroscience is to decipher the principles underlying neuronal information processing at the molecular, cellular, circuit, and system levels. The advent of miniature fluorescence microscopy has furthered the quest by visualizing brain activities and structural dynamics in animals engaged in self-determined behaviors. In this brief review, we summarize recent advances in miniature fluorescence microscopy for neuroscience, focusing mostly on two mainstream solutions – miniature single-photon microscopy, and miniature two-photon microscopy. We discuss their technical advantages and limitations as well as unmet challenges for future improvement. Examples of preliminary applications are also presented to reflect on a new trend of brain imaging in experimental paradigms involving body movements, long and complex protocols, and even disease progression and aging.
Keywords
Miniature fluorescence microscopy; Brain imaging; Two-photon microscopy; Neuronal information processing
