Multiple cells recodings with Calcium Imaging

Influx and outflux of calcium molecules in cells are related to the generation of spikes. This is typicaly measured by a fluorescence signal that is emited when there is a change in calcium concentration. This fluorescence can be later captured by a microscope.

At the Neural Networks of Memory Lab we use the two main microscopy techniques for detecting calcium fluorecence, 1-photon (Inscopix miniscope) and 2-photon microscopy. The use of one or the other imaging technique will change depending principaly of the type of behaviour we are studying.

One-photon calcium imaging in freely behaving mice

Miniendoscopes (small microscopes with 1-photon technology) are portable and can be use in freely moving animals that were injected with (GCaMP) so a fluorescence signal is emited when there is change in calcium concentration.

We use the object-space task to study episodic vs semantic memory in the medial Prefrontal Cortex of mice while recoding with Inscopix miniscope.

Two Photon calcium imaging in head fixed mice

The two-photon microscope uses infrared laser to penetrate organic tissue with less scattering.
Our system is used for head-fixed in vivo calcium imaging of cortical activity during social learning, and also to study auditory learning by the Englitz group. Calcium imaging enables us to track hundreds of neurons across days.

To train mice for social learning while head-fixed, we utilize a virtual reality system built for mice.