Wireless optical imaging, optogenetic stimulation and neurophysiological recording to study to neural foundations of natural freely moving behaviors in primates.

项目总结 几十年来，在动物身上进行的研究都是在严格控制感知的实验条件下进行的 和行为来了解大脑的功能。例如，在视觉感知的研究中 视觉范例通常包括不自然的长时间注视眼睛和注意远离 凝视中心(隐蔽注意力)。这些动物范例需要长时间的训练(几个月到一年)。 虽然这样的研究极大地提高了我们对大脑功能的了解，但一个反复出现的问题是 收集的数据与自然行为有关。今天，尖端技术和 计算能力可以将我们从经典实验范式的限制中解放出来，并迎来一种 新一代的神经科学问题关注的是大脑在现实世界环境中的运作方式。 本项目的目标是开发一种用于刺激和记录领域的小型无线多模式设备- 在自由活动的灵长类动物中基于皮质活动。我们将研究初级视觉皮质区域的功能 使用多模式设备的本征光学成像和光遗传刺激，该设备包括无线 摄像头和无线多点LED刺激器。为了评估这种方法的功能，动物们将 执行视觉检测和辨别任务。最终目标是生产一种多模式设备， 从现成的组件构建，提供不受限制的、多区域的和有针对性的(根据指定 皮层区域)刺激和记录能力。这一项目的成功结果将有助于 对我们理解知觉和行为的皮质编码，并将具有临床意义的 脑机接口的发展。

PROJECT SUMMARY Decades of studies in animals have been conducted in conditions of strict experimental control of perception and behavior in order to understand the functions of the brain. For instance, in the study of visual perception visual paradigms often involve unnaturally long eye fixation periods and attention to locations away from the center of gaze (covert attention). These animal paradigms require long training periods (months to a year). While such studies have advanced our knowledge of brain function tremendously, a recurring question is how relevant the gathered data are to natural behavior. Today, the availability of cutting-edge technologies and computational power can free us from these limitations of the classical experimental paradigms and usher in a new generation of neuroscience questions focused on how the functioning of the brain in real world settings. The goal of this project is to develop a small wireless multimodal device for stimulating and recording domain- based cortical activity in freely moving primates. We will study the function of primary visual cortical areas with intrinsic optical imaging and optogenetic stimulation using a multimodal device that consists of a wireless camera and a wireless multisite LED stimulator. To evaluate the functionality of this approach, animals will perform visual detection and discrimination tasks. The end goal is the production of a multimodal device, constructed from off the shelf components, that provides unrestrained, multiareal and targeted (to specified cortical domains) stimulation and recording capabilities. The successful outcome of this project will contribute to our understanding of cortical encoding of perception and behavior and will have clinical relevance for the development of brain-machine interfaces.