Simple and cost-effective hardware and software for functional brain mapping using intrinsic optical signal imaging

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Optical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Intrinsic optical signal (IOS) imaging reveals brain activity through light reflectance changes.
• Traditional IOS imaging often requires specialized and expensive equipment.
• A need exists for more accessible and cost-effective brain imaging techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simple, low-cost system for intrinsic optical signal (IOS) imaging.
• To demonstrate the system's utility for mapping sensory representations in the brain.
• To enable IOS imaging with minimal specialized equipment.

Main Methods:

• Utilized stable LED ring lights for homogeneous illumination.
• Employed basic microscopes and commonly available CCD cameras (8-bit or 12-bit).
• Developed software for creating sensory representation maps from captured images.
• Described surgical techniques for acute and chronic mouse preparations.

Main Results:

• Achieved highly stable illumination (<0.003% fluctuation).
• Successfully mapped sensory representations using the developed system.
• Demonstrated adaptability to commercial upright microscopes and custom macroscopes.

Conclusions:

• The described IOS imaging system offers a simple and affordable approach to studying brain activity.
• This method is versatile and can be integrated with advanced imaging techniques like two-photon microscopy.
• The system lowers the barrier to entry for functional brain imaging research.