Imaging Activity Inside Entire Brain and Central Nervous System of an Animal (VIDEO)
 

Imaging Activity Inside Entire Brain and Central Nervous System of an Animal (VIDEO)
http://www.medgadget.com/wp-content/...ous-system.pngUnderstanding how the central nervous system functions better than we do today will require techniques that let us see the action taking place*along a*myriad neural pathways. A team of scientists at the*Howard Hughes Medical Institute developed a new technique that combines high-resolution multi-view imaging and calcium imaging*data to provide visualization (at up to five frames per second) of functional activity taking place inside the*entire central nervous system of a larval Drosophila fly. The technique relies on careful preparation of the entire central nervous system, a*light-sheet microscope that can scan across the entire sample at a rapid rate, as well as the algorithms that process the data to render a 3D image.

This whole-central nervous system functional imaging technique resulted in the mapping*of 3D neural activity during fictive behaviors. The tech**logical methods used represent an*appealing approach towards the study of behavior, generated as a result of the architecture and*functional dynamics of complex neural structures. Currently, the presented system is applicable*for biological networks at a scale of up to 800 × 800 × 250m3. Yet, the implementation of*these techniques may pave the way for the study of advanced vertebrates, and large-scale*functional imaging of neural activity, thus providing us also with a new way of evaluating the*effects of emerging therapies on the entire central nervous system.

William Lemon, a co-author of the aforementioned study, told Medgadget:

“This systems-level view of nervous system activity helps us understand the complex activity*that underlies higher brain functions such as sensory integration and the generation of*behaviors. Using this new technique that is compatible with optically opaque tissue, we are***w employing high-speed light-sheet microscopy to study the nervous systems of higher*invertebrates, such as fruit flies, and small vertebrates, such as zebrafish. In our lab, the*zebrafish is currently serving as a powerful system for investigating the pharmacological control*of neural activity and neurological disorders. With the current hs-SiMView microscope we are*limited to imaging fairly small specimens, usually less than 2mm thick, but light-sheet*microscopy is a rapidly developing technique. ”

Here’s a sample video of one of the scans:



Study in Nature Communications: Whole-central nervous system functional imaging in larval Drosophila…

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