Circuit Investigations With Open-Source Miniaturized Microscopes: Past, Present and Future

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Imaging

Background:

• Miniaturized fluorescence microscopes (miniscopes) allow simultaneous imaging of neural activity in small, unrestrained animals.
• Miniscopes have been crucial for studying neural circuits involved in behaviors like vocalization, memory, and sleep.
• Academic research and commercialization have advanced miniscope technology over the past two decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the development, current applications, and future potential of miniscopes in neuroscience.
• To highlight how open-source initiatives have accelerated miniscope innovation and adoption.
• To discuss advancements enabling more sophisticated neural circuit analysis during naturalistic behaviors.

Main Methods:

• Development of lightweight, wearable fluorescence microscopes for small animals.
• Leveraging open-source principles for rapid design modification and functional enhancement.
• Integration of advanced features such as wireless recording, concurrent electrophysiology, and multi-color imaging.

Main Results:

• Miniscopes enable the study of neural dynamics during complex, unrestrained vertebrate behaviors.
• Open-source development has led to a new generation of versatile miniscopes.
• Advanced miniscopes offer capabilities like wireless recording and simultaneous optical actuation.

Conclusions:

• Miniscopes are powerful tools for probing neural circuit function during naturalistic behaviors.
• Ongoing innovation, particularly through open-source efforts, is expanding the capabilities of miniscopes.
• Future miniscope development promises more affordable and comprehensive methods for neuroscience research.