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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Chronic Imaging of Mouse Visual Cortex Using a Thinned-skull Preparation

Chronic Imaging of Mouse Visual Cortex Using a Thinned-skull Preparation

Published on: October 25, 2010

Cortex-wide neural interfacing via transparent polymer skulls.

Leila Ghanbari¹, Russell E Carter², Mathew L Rynes³

¹Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.

Nature Communications

|April 4, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers developed See-Shells, transparent polymer skulls enabling long-term optical access to mouse brains. This tool allows simultaneous neural imaging and perturbation across multiple brain regions for studying complex behaviors.

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science

Background:

Simultaneous neural activity in multiple brain regions is crucial for behavior.
Existing tools lack the ability to monitor and perturb neural activity across multiple cortical regions concurrently.
Understanding the interplay between different brain regions requires advanced imaging and manipulation techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer a novel tool for simultaneous, long-term optical monitoring and perturbation of neural activity in multiple cortical regions.
To provide researchers with a method for investigating brain-wide neural computations underlying behavior.

Main Methods:

Development of 'See-Shells': digitally designed, transparent polymer skulls providing optical access to the mouse dorsal cerebral cortex.
Demonstration of mesoscopic and two-photon imaging (cellular/subcellular resolution) up to 600 µm depth.
Utilizing perforated See-Shells for simultaneous introduction of neural probes for perturbation/recording alongside imaging.

Main Results:

See-Shells allow for long-term (>300 days) optical access to 45 mm² of the dorsal cortex.
Successful calcium imaging from multiple, non-contiguous cortical regions was achieved.
Simultaneous imaging and neural probe insertion were demonstrated, enabling combined optical and electrophysiological investigation.

Conclusions:

See-Shells offer a powerful, accessible platform for advanced neuroscience research.
This technology facilitates the study of neural computations across distributed brain networks.
See-Shells enable unprecedented simultaneous monitoring and perturbation of neural activity, advancing the investigation of brain structure and function.