Neuron-to-Neuron Interface: Optically Connected Neurons Between the Brains of Two Zebrafish

心灵感应，如科幻小说中所描绘的，是指想象中的与另一个人或动物进行精神交流的能力，而不依赖于我们的身体感官，如视觉，听觉，触觉或嗅觉。科幻小说中的心灵感应可以通过脑对脑接口实现。这种接口允许使用植入的电极将大脑信号从一个人或动物的大脑直接传输到另一个人或动物的大脑。脑对脑交流有可能成为一种突破性的交流形式，不仅可以避免意外的干扰或误解，还可以帮助我们更深入地了解大脑如何发送信号并改善大脑功能。然而，利用植入电极的脑-脑接口在准确传输神经信息方面遇到了挑战。这是因为电极一起收集和传输来自多个神经元的信号，而不是分别捕获和传递来自单个神经元的信号。该项目旨在开发一种新的和创新的大脑通信方法。它涉及使用特殊的遗传生物分子连接两个斑马鱼幼虫大脑之间的单个神经元。这种创新的方法将被称为神经元到神经元接口。成功开发的神经元到神经元接口有可能促进我们对大脑功能的理解，并探索改善其性能的可能性。这项研究可能会带来关于大脑以及我们如何相互交流的令人兴奋的新发现。这项研究将通过为中学中人数不足的少数群体学生和家庭举办夏季讲习班和研讨会，纳入互动教育机会。它还将包括旨在吸引科学，技术，工程和数学领域的本科生的教育项目。拟议的研究旨在开发一种新型的神经元到神经元接口，将两个斑马鱼幼虫大脑之间的单个神经元连接起来，并应用该接口来改善大脑功能。为了建立神经元到神经元的连接，将实施遗传编码的神经活动指示器和光遗传致动器来监测和控制斑马鱼幼虫中的单个神经元活动。所提出的接口将允许将单个神经信号从发送器传输到接收器，并且因此将在发送器和接收器鱼中产生同步的行为输出。该系统将被应用于研究大脑功能的恢复和增强。具体的项目任务将包括：（1）通过在目标神经元上表达遗传编码的神经活动指示器和光遗传致动器来创建发送器和接收器鱼，（2）建立一个将神经信号从发送器传输到接收器鱼的集成平台，以及（3）应用神经元到神经元接口来恢复和增强接收器鱼的神经功能。该研究方法将结合联合收割机生物和技术元素，包括一个发送器鱼，从其中收集单个M-神经元信号，一个接收器鱼，其中相应的M-神经元信号被传递到，以及发送器和接收器鱼之间的实时信号传输。这个创新的平台将为研究人员提供一个独特的工具来研究神经信号和通信机制，这可以应用于评估医疗干预和治疗，以减轻大脑疾病。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得支持的评估使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准。

Telepathy, as portrayed in science fiction, refers to the imagined ability to communicate mentally with another person or animal, without relying on our physical senses like seeing, hearing, touching, or smelling. The idea of telepathy in science fiction can be brought to life through a brain-to-brain interface. This interface allows the direct transfer of brain signals from one person's or animal's brain to another's using implanted electrodes. Brain-to-brain communication has the potential to be a groundbreaking form of communication that not only avoids unintended interference or miscommunication but also helps us gain a deeper understanding of how the brain sends signals and improves brain functions. However, brain-to-brain interfaces that utilize implanted electrodes encounter challenges in accurately transmitting neural information. This is because the electrodes collect and transmit signals from multiple neurons together, rather than capturing and delivering signals from individual neurons separately. This project seeks to develop a new and innovative approach to brain communication. It involves connecting individual neurons between the brains of two zebrafish larvae using special genetic biomolecules. This innovative approach will be referred to as a neuron-to-neuron interface. A successfully developed neuron-to-neuron interface has the potential to advance our understanding of the brain's functionality and explore possibilities for improving its performance. This research could lead to exciting new discoveries about the brain and how we communicate with each other. This research will be integrated into interactive education opportunities through summer workshops and seminars for underrepresented minority students and families in secondary schools. It will also include educational projects designed to engage undergraduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The proposed research aims to develop a novel neuron-to-neuron interface that connects individual neurons between the brains of two zebrafish larvae and apply the interface to improve brain functions. To build the neuron-to-neuron connection, genetically encoded neural activity indicators and optogenetic actuators will be implemented to monitor and control individual neuron activity in zebrafish larvae. The proposed interface will allow individual neural signals to be transmitted from a sender to a receiver and, as a result, will produce synchronized behavioral outputs in both the sender and receiver fish. The proposed system will be applied to examine restoration and augmentation of brain functions. Specific project tasks will include: (1) create a sender and a receiver fish by expressing genetically encoded neural activity indicator and optogenetic actuators at target neurons, (2) build an integrated platform that transmits neural signals from a sender to a receiver fish, and (3) apply the neuron-to-neuron interface to rehabilitate and augment neural functions in a receiver fish. The research approach will combine biological and technical elements including a sender fish where individual M-neuron signals are collected from, a receiver fish where corresponding M-neuron signals are delivered to, and a real-time signal transmission between the sender and receiver fish. This innovative platform will provide researchers with a unique tool to study neural signaling and communication mechanisms, which can be applied to assess medical interventions and therapeutics to alleviate brain disorders.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.