Miniaturized microscopes to study neural dynamics in freely-behaving animals

TL;DR

Miniaturized microscopes, or miniscopes, have rapidly advanced, enabling neural activity imaging in freely-behaving animals and opening new research opportunities in neuroscience.

Contribution

This review summarizes recent technological progress, challenges, and emerging innovations in one-photon and multi-photon miniscopes for neuroscience research.

Findings

Enhanced imaging speed and field of view

Deeper brain tissue imaging capabilities

Identification of current technical challenges and future directions

Abstract

Head-mounted miniaturized microscopes, commonly known as miniscopes, have undergone rapid development and seen widespread adoption over the past two decades, enabling the imaging of neural activity in freely-behaving animals such as rodents, songbirds, and non-human primates. These miniscopes facilitate numerous studies that are not feasible with head-fixed preparations. Recent advancements have enhanced their capabilities, allowing for faster imaging, larger fields of view, and deeper brain penetration. In this review, we examine the latest progress in one-photon and multi-photon miniscopes. We highlight the unique opportunities these devices present for neuroscience research, discuss the current technical challenges, and explore emerging technologies that promise to advance the development of miniscopes.