亚毫米分辨原子磁力仪及其在脑神经元磁场测量方面的基础研究

生命体的神经活动可以产生微弱的磁场信号，通过测量生物磁场信号可以得到许多重要的生理和病理信息。初级视觉皮层中富含超高密度的亚毫米视觉神经元，研究初级视觉皮层神经元及集群工作机制是脑科学领域的一个重要问题。亚毫米分辨率的磁场测量系统可以满足对初级视觉皮层神经元磁场信号的测量需求。本项目首先将微流控技术和高灵敏度的SERF磁力仪结合，实现体外神经元亚毫米空间分辨率的磁场测量，为体外神经元研究提供一个合适的微尺度操作与分析原型平台。为了准确判断神经网络的形成及传递规律，实现神经元信号的原位测量，进一步研究神经元集群网络工作机制，本项目将利用原子气室MEMS制备技术，结合Bell-Bloom磁力仪，对活体鼠脑初级视觉皮层神经元进行空间定位和功能解析。本项目的研究对高空间分辨率原子磁力仪的研制，脑神经系统通讯及信息交换过程的测量，增进对大脑工作机制的理解，以及脑神经相关疾病的诊断等均具有重要意义。

Neuronal activities of living organisms are associated with tiny magnetic fields. Many valuable physiological and pathological information can be extracted from biological magnetic field signals. The primary visual area of the cerebral cortex is the first stage of cortical processing of visual information, which contains ultra-high density sub-millimeter visual neurons. The great majority of neuroscience research recently focuses on the work mechanism of the primary visual cortex neurons, a sub-millimeter resolution atomic magnetometer is thus of utmost need to investigate the structure and function of primary visual cortex neurons. In a pursuit to investigate the neuronal activities in vitro, we will use SERF magnetometers to measure the magnetic fields of the neurons incubated on the home-made sub-millimeter microfluidic compartmentalized chips. Microchannel heat transfer system will be developed to overcome the disadvantage of high operating temperature of SERF magnetometers. Microfluidic chips may provide a useful platform for operation and investigation for neurons research in vitro, but direct in-situ measurement of neurons activities remains elusive. Benefit of MEMS technology, we will realize a sub-millimeter resolution Bell-Bloom magnetometer by using microfabricated vapor cell with anti-relaxation coating. The primary visual cortex neurons of living mouse brain will be located and analyzed to answer the question of color-coding and tone response of the neurons. Our proposal is able to realize the sub-millimeter spatial resolution of atomic magnetometer and may pave the way for non-invasive investigating the neuronal activities, understanding of the working mechanism of the brain.