Watching the brain in action: creating tools for functional analysis of neural circuitry

摘要

To study the neural circuitry, the action of one cells under thecontext of others, one would precisely measure and perturb spe-cific neuronal populations and molecules in behaving animals whoare specifically engaged in performing the computation or func-tion of interest. The dataset of millions of neurons firing togetherunderlying a behavior are required to develop and refine theories(hypotheses) explaining animal behavior in terms of brain phys-iology. The focus of lab is to develop novel genetically encodedindicators based on fluorescence proteins, especially focusing ondirect and specific measurement of myriad input signals withneeded spatial and temporal resolutions. In this talk, I will dis-cuss our recent progress into develop and apply a new suite ofgenetically encoded indicators to enable (1) In vivo measure-ment of afferent activity of any length with axon-specific calciumimaging in previously inaccessible deep brain area; (2) ultrafastneuronal imaging of dopamine dynamics in vivo. I will discussthe design, characterization and applications of these geneticallyencoded indicators. We also validate our sensor design platform,which could also be applied to developing sensors for a broadrange of neuromodulators, including norepinephrine, serotonin,melatonin, and opioid neuropeptides. In combination with calciumimaging and optogenetics, our sensors are well poised to permitdirectfunctionalanalysisofhowthespatiotemporalcodingofneu-ral input signaling mediates the plasticity and function of targetcircuits.