BRAIN EAGER: Spatially-Resolved In Vivo Optogenetic Stimulation and Imaging Platform

PI：Boppart，Stephen A.Proposal：1450829标题：Brain Aurst：在活体光遗传刺激和成像平台中的空间分辨意义这一研究项目的成功结果将对除光学科学和工程学之外的神经科学产生广泛影响。PI将使用植入的成像光纤束，从而实现活体成像以及空间控制的光学刺激和大面积神经回路的光学反馈。目前的光纤只能不加区别地照亮大片区域。光遗传学有望在未来对神经科学以及医学和临床医学产生广泛的影响。这项拟议的研究提供了通过控制光刺激和增强神经回路控制的特异性来产生更大影响的可能性。该项目的成果将在科学界和工程界广泛分享，并在外联活动中广泛应用于社会各阶层。新的成像和可视化能力将启发K-12学生思考如何利用技术来看到人们通常看不到的东西，以及我们如何发明新的方式来看待我们周围的世界和发现新的知识。外展活动将包括通过日常工程开放活动向K-12和社区团体演示这些成像光纤束和新型光源，以及将这些技术方法整合到博帕特教授？S教授的大学本科欧洲经委会/生物E467生物光子学和欧洲经委会/生物E380生物医学成像课程中。技术说明光遗传学是一个快速发展的领域，分子生物学技术工具包不断扩大，以实现细胞，最常见的神经元的光激活开关和控制。在光学科学和工程方面取得了同等显著的进展。通过了解和利用光在光子晶体光纤(PCF)和成像光纤束中如何相互作用的基于物理的原理，有可能产生、控制和优化一系列新的光学参数，用于活体光生刺激。传统上，在活体光遗传应用中，光沿着单个多模光纤被发送到大脑以漫反射照明，这依赖于光基因修饰神经元的分子生物学的细胞和电路特异性。这个迫切的项目将独特地开发和演示成像光纤束的使用，以及特定光脉冲参数的生成，以实现体内神经电路的空间分辨光遗传刺激和成像。这些新的神经技术将使行为和认知的新研究成为可能。

PI: Boppart, Stephen A.Proposal: 1450829Title: BRAIN EAGER: Spatially-Resolved In Vivo Optogenetic Stimulation and Imaging PlatformSignificanceThe successful outcome of this research project will have a broad impact in neuroscience in addition to optical science and engineering. The PI will use implanted imaging fiber bundles that will enablein vivo imaging as well as spatially-controlled optical stimulation and optical feedback of large-area neural circuits. Current fibers only indiscriminately illuminate large-areas. Optogenetics is expected to make a broad impact in neuroscience, as well as medical science and clinical medicine in the future. This proposed research offers the potential to have an even greater impact by controlling the light stimulus and enhancing specificity in the control of neural circuits. The results of this project will be shared widely amongst the scientific and engineering communities, and also across wide segments of society in outreach activities. The new imaging and visualization capabilities will inspire K-12 students to think about how technology can be used to see things one cannot normally see, and how we can invent new ways of seeing the world around us and discovering new knowledge. Outreach activities will include demos of these imaging fiber bundles and novel light sources to K-12 and community groups throughannual Engineering Open House events, as well as integration of these technological methods in Prof. Boppart?s undergraduate ECE/BioE 467 Biophotonics and ECE/BioE 380 Biomedical Imagingcourses.Technical DescriptionOptogenetics is a rapidly developing field with an ever-expanding toolkit of molecular biologytechniques to enable light-activated switching and control of cells, most commonly neurons.Equally significant advances have occurred in optical science and engineering. By understandingand exploiting physics-based principles of how light interacts in photonic crystal fibers (PCFs) and within imaging fiber bundles, it is possible to generate, control, and optimize a wide range of new optical parameters for in vivo optogenetic stimulation. Traditionally in in vivo optogenetic applications, light has been sent down single multi-mode optical fibers to diffusely illuminate the brain, relying on the molecular biology of optogenetically-modified neurons for cell and circuit specificity. This EAGER project will uniquely develop and demonstrate the use of imaging fiber bundles, and the generation of specific light pulse parameters to enable spatially-resolved optogenetic stimulation and imaging of neural circuits in vivo. These novel neurotechnologies will enable new investigations underlying behavior and cognition.