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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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Evaluation and Manipulation of Neural Activity Using Two-Photon Holographic Microscopy
Published on: September 16, 2022
Probing inter-areal computations with a two-photon holographic mesoscope
Lamiae Abdeladim1,2, Uday K Jagadisan3,4, Hyeyoung Shin3,4,5
1Department of Neuroscience, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. lamiae.abdeladim@gmail.com.
Nature Neuroscience
|August 4, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed a new holographic mesoscope to simultaneously read and write neural activity. This technology enables causal testing of brain connectivity hypotheses across distributed cortical areas with high resolution.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Computational Neuroscience
- Optogenetics
Background:
- Understanding brain computation requires studying distributed neural networks.
- Causally testing inter-areal processing hypotheses has been limited by technological constraints.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a technology for simultaneously reading and writing neural activity across large cortical regions.
- To enable high-resolution mapping of functional connectivity and causal interactions in the brain.
Main Methods:
- Development of a two-photon holographic mesoscope.
- Simultaneous recording and photoactivation of neural activity with near-single-cell resolution.
- Application across large regions of the mouse cortex.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated precise photoactivation of neuronal sequences in one or multiple cortical areas.
- Showcased readout of downstream effects in other cortical regions.
- Established a platform for mesoscale optogenetics.
Conclusions:
- The developed mesoscope allows for unprecedented causal interrogation of distributed neural networks.
- This technology provides a powerful tool for mapping functional connectivity and causal interactions in the brain.
- Opens new avenues for understanding brain computation.
