Cortex-wide neural interfacing via transparent polymer skulls

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.