Neural computations occurring simultaneously in multiple cerebral cortical regions are critical for mediating behaviors. Progress has been made in understanding how neural activity in specific cortical regions contributes to behavior. However, there is a lack of tools that allow simultaneous monitoring and perturbing neural activity from multiple cortical regions. We engineered ‘See-Shells’—digitally designed, morphologically realistic, transparent polymer skulls that allow long-term (>300 days) optical access to 45 mm2 of the dorsal cerebral cortex in the mouse. We demonstrate the ability to perform mesoscopic imaging, as well as cellular and subcellular resolution two-photon imaging of neural structures up to 600 µm deep. See-Shells allow calcium imaging from multiple, non-contiguous regions across the cortex. Perforated See-Shells enable introducing penetrating neural probes to perturb or record neural activity simultaneously with whole cortex imaging. See-Shells are constructed using common desktop fabrication tools, providing a powerful tool for investigating brain structure and function.
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机译：在多个大脑皮层区域中同时发生的神经计算对于介导行为至关重要。在了解特定皮质区域的神经活动如何促进行为方面已取得进展。但是，缺少可以同时监视和干扰来自多个皮质区域的神经活动的工具。我们设计了“ See-Shells”-数字化设计，形态逼真的透明聚合物头骨，可以长期（> 300天）光学接触小鼠背侧大脑皮层的45 mm 2 。我们展示了执行中观成像以及神经结构的细胞和亚细胞分辨率两光子成像的能力，最大深度可达600µµm。 See-Shell允许从皮质的多个不连续区域进行钙成像。穿孔的See-Shell可以引入穿透性神经探针，以与整个皮层成像同时扰动或记录神经活动。 See-Shell使用常见的桌面制造工具构造而成，为研究大脑结构和功能提供了强大的工具。
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