NeuroNex Technology Hub: Miniaturized open source devices for calcium imaging, electrophysiology, and real-time control of neural activity

为了了解大脑是如何处理信息、创造和提取记忆以及做出决定的，有必要同时记录数千个脑细胞的活动。新型的小而轻的显微镜已经被开发出来，可以在实验室小鼠和大鼠的头上携带。这些显微镜利用了一种新型探针，这种探针可以感知钙含量，当脑细胞变得活跃时就会发出闪光。Neuronex神经技术中心制造了新型微型显微镜，不仅能感应光线，还能直接记录大脑深处大量细胞的电活动。这种电子和光学记录的结合使科学家们有了一种新的能力，可以读出大脑感知、学习、计划和执行行动时，大群脑细胞和大脑区域是如何协同工作的。Neuronex神经技术中心还将创建新的计算机系统，能够以极快的速度（不到一秒的时间）分析这些活动模式。这种快速反馈系统将使研究人员能够快速探测特定脑细胞群的活动如何与每种行为相关联。最后，该中心将建造并测试一种名为“光场微型显微镜”的新型微型显微镜。这种版本的显微镜将使研究人员能够制作大脑活动的3d电影，极大地改善了他们对脑细胞大网络的看法。所有这些技术都将通过一个网站（miniscope.org）与神经科学界公开分享，这样每个实验室都可以以非常低的成本自己制造这些设备。该中心将举办讲习班，教科学家如何建造和使用各种设备。最后，该中心将通过为K-12和大学生开设课程，向更广泛的社区提供服务，并展示这些设备如何让我们了解大脑功能。该神经技术中心将开发和共享下一代小型化体内传感设备，该设备集成了数百或数千个行为动物神经元的光学和电生理记录。这些设备将与节能计算硬件相结合，用于实时信号处理和闭环反馈能力。该中心还将制造光场小型化显微镜，允许对自由行为的动物的网络活动进行三维光学记录。最后，该中心将制造和分销定制的三维硅微探针，用于大规模电生理记录。让这些设备广泛应用于神经科学研究和教学，将通过加速发现和扩大推广范围，产生重大而广泛的影响。这些设备和技术将被广泛分发给一个庞大的研究人员社区，就像之前由pi开发的开源微型显微镜（minicope.org网站已经有2500名注册用户和250个实验室使用我们的显微镜）以及硅微探针（100个设备已与用户共享）所做的那样。因此，该中心将对神经科学研究产生广泛的影响，促进我们对情感、认知和行为的神经基础的理解，并有很大的潜力催化重大的新发现。pi将通过与加州大学洛杉矶分校的少数族裔研究职业项目以及加州大学洛杉矶分校工程与多样性卓越中心（CEED）合作，建立一个外展项目，让高度多元化的高中生和本科生参与这项研究。这个神经技术中心奖是由生物科学理事会新兴前沿部门资助的，作为大脑倡议和国家科学基金会理解大脑活动的一部分。

To understand how the brain processes information, creates and retrieves memories, and makes decisions it is necessary to record the activity of thousands of brain cells simultaneously. New small and light-weight microscopes have been developed that can be carried on the heads of laboratory mice and rats. These microscopes take advantage of new probes that sense calcium levels and flash bright when a brain cell becomes active. The Neuronex Neurotechnology Hub has built new miniature microscopes that not only sense light but can also directly record the electrical activity of the large numbers of cells deep in the brain. This combination of electrical and optical recordings gives scientists the new ability to read out how large groups of brain cells and brain regions work together as the brain senses, learns, plans and executes actions. The Neuronex Neurotechnology Hub will also create new computer systems that can analyze these activity patterns extremely quickly (within small fractions of a second). This rapid feedback system will allow investigators to rapidly probe how the activity of specific groups of brain cells is linked to each behavior. Finally, the Hub will build and test a new miniature microscope called a "light field miniature microscope". This version of the microscope will allow investigators to make 3-D movies of brain activity, greatly improving their view of the large network of brain cells. All these technologies will be openly shared with neuroscience community through a website (miniscope.org), such that each laboratory can build each of these devices themselves at very low cost. The Hub will hold workshops to teach scientists how to build and use the various devices. Finally the hub will reach out to the broader community by holding classes for K-12 and college students, and demonstrating how these devices can give us a view of brain function.This Neurotechnology Hub will develop and share next-generation miniaturized in vivo sensing devices that integrate optical and electrophysiological recording from hundreds or thousands of neurons in behaving animals. These devices will be coupled with energy-efficient computing hardware for real-time signal processing and closed-loop feedback capabilities. The Hub will also create light field miniaturized microscopes that will allow three dimensional optical recordings of network activity in freely behaving animals. Last, the Hub will manufacture and distribute custom made, 3 dimensional silicon microprobes for large scale electrophysiological recordings. Making these devices widely available for neuroscience research and teaching will have significant broader impacts, by accelerating discovery and broadening outreach. The devices and techniques will be distributed widely to a large community of researchers, as previously done with the open-source miniaturized microscope developed by the PIs (the website at miniscope.org already has 2500 registered users and 250 labs using our microscope), as well as with silicon microprobes (100 devices have been shared with users). Hence, the Hub will have a broad impact upon neuroscience research, facilitating many future advances in our understanding of the neural basis for emotion, cognition, and behavior, with a high potential to catalyze major new discoveries. The PIs will establish an outreach program through partnership with the Minority Access to Research Careers program at UCLA, as well as the UCLA Center for Excellence in Engineering and Diversity (CEED), to involve highly diversified high school and undergraduate students in this research. This NeuroTechnology Hub award is funded by the Division of Emerging Frontiers within the Directorate for Biological Sciences as part of the BRAIN Initiative and NSF's Understanding the Brain activities.