Computational optics for high-throughput imaging of neural activity

Abstract

. Optical microscopy offers a noninvasive way to image neural activity in the mouse brain. To simultaneously record neural activity across a large population of neurons, optical systems that have high spatiotemporal resolution and can access a large volume are necessary. The throughput of a system, that is, the number of resolvable spots acquired by the system at a given time, is usually limited by optical hardware. To overcome this limitation, computation optics that designs optical hardware and computer software jointly becomes a new approach that achieves micronscale resolution, millimeter-scale field-of-view, and hundreds of hertz imaging speed at the same time. This review article summarizes recent advances in computational optics for high-throughput imaging of neural activity, highlighting technologies for three-dimensional parallelized excitation and detection. Computational optics can substantially accelerate the study of neural circuits with previously unattainable precision and speed.

Special Section Guest Editorial: Computational Approaches for Neuroimaging

“…Another emerging area is computational imaging, which seeks to synergistically combine novel optical designs and advanced computational algorithms to enable novel capabilities. Xue 8 provides a review that summarizes recent advances in computational optics for high-throughput imaging of neural activity, which aims to achieve 3D parallelized excitation and detection across millimeter-scale field-of-view with micron-scale resolution at high speeds. Eybposh et al 9 .…”