Topic: functional ultrasound imaging

Functional ultrasound imaging during behavior

The dream of a systems neuroscientist is to be able to unravel neural mechanisms that give rise to behavior. It is increasingly appreciated that behavior involves the concerted distributed activity of multiple brain regions so the focus on single or few brain areas might hinder our understanding. There have been quite a few technological advancements in this domain. Functional ultrasound imaging (fUSi) is an emerging technique that allows us to measure neural activity from medial frontal regions down to subcortical structures up to a depth of 20 mm. It is a method for imaging transient changes in cerebral blood volume (CBV), which are proportional to neural activity changes. It has excellent spatial resolution (~100 μm X 100 μm X 400 μm); its temporal resolution can go down to 100 milliseconds. In this talk, I will present its use in two model systems: marmoset monkeys and rats. In marmoset monkeys, we used it to delineate a social – vocal network involved in vocal communication while in rats, we used it to gain insights into brain wide networks involved in evidence accumulation based decision making. fUSi has the potential to provide an unprecedented access to brain wide dynamics in freely moving animals performing complex behavioral tasks.

Bridging scales – combining functional ultrasound imaging, optogenetics, and electrophysiology to study neuronal networks underlying behavior

Characterization of brain networks using functional ultrasound imaging

Chronic functional ultrasound imaging combined with behavior tracking on freely moving rats performing spatial exploration

A custom cranial window implant for long-term whole-brain functional ultrasound imaging in behaving mice

Identification of functional biomarkers of demyelination in two animal models of Multiple Sclerosis with functional Ultrasound Imaging

Stroke-induced alterations of thalamo-cortical functions assessed by functional ultrasound imaging in awake rats

Ultrasound localization microscopy and functional ultrasound imaging reveal atypical features of the trigeminal ganglion vasculature

Whole-brain 3D transcranial functional connectivity of the mouse brain with MultiArray functional ultrasound imaging