Optical Methods for the Functional Investigation of Neural Networks in the Mouse Whisker System
Learn about optical methods for exploring neuronal networks.
Attendees will gain first-hand insights into various optical methods that can be used to explore brain circuits and their influence on behavior such as:
- All-optical two-photon imaging;
- Bidirectional two-photon perturbation; and
- Micro-fabricated optics
Presenter's Abstract
Information about sensory stimuli is encoded within brain circuits in the form of complex spatial and temporal activity patterns which are distributed across neurons. Understanding how these patterns influence behavior requires methods to measure and perturb the activity of the multiple neuronal cell types engaged in sensory processing with high spatial resolution.
In this webinar, I will focus on our contribution to this growing field of research focusing on three main issues:
- Achieving efficient high-resolution bidirectional manipulation of cell activity;
- Minimizing crosstalk between imaging of the fluorescent sensors and opsin activation; and
- Applying this technology to deep brain regions using endoscopic probes.
Approaches to improve the optical properties of ultrathin endoscopes using 3D printed micro-lenses will also be discussed. Optical developments and their applications will be presented to dissect the functional properties of thalamocortical circuits in the mouse whisker system.
Featured Products and Technology
Speaker
Tommaso Fellin, Senior Investigator, Optical Approaches to Brain Function Laboratory, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Genova, Italy
