Targeted micro-fiber arrays for measuring and manipulating localized multi-scale neural dynamics over large, deep...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Systems Neuroscience
• Neural Engineering

Background:

• Neural population dynamics are crucial for behavior and occur across extensive 3D brain volumes.
• Existing optical methods struggle with the spatial coverage and resolution needed for deep brain regions like the striatum.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a new method for simultaneously measuring and manipulating neural activity across many locations in deep brain structures.
• To investigate cell-type-specific and neurotransmitter-specific signals in 3D volumes with unprecedented resolution and coverage.

Main Methods:

• Designed and implemented a micro-fiber array for chronic measurement and optogenetic manipulation.
• Simultaneously targeted over 100 locations in head-fixed and freely moving mice.
• Applied the method to study dopamine release dynamics in the striatum.

Main Results:

• Resolved rapid dopamine release across the striatum, showing distinct, modality-specific spatiotemporal patterns.
• Demonstrated millimeter-scale signal propagation in response to sensory stimuli.
• Achieved flexible control of neural signaling across multiple spatial scales.

Conclusions:

• The micro-fiber array enables investigation of large-scale neural dynamics previously inaccessible.
• This technology provides new insights into the spatiotemporal organization of dopamine signaling and its behavioral relevance.
• Targeted optogenetics can effectively modulate neural circuits to understand localized behavioral functions.