Illuminating neural coding mechanisms using in vivo calcium imaging in freely behaving rodents

National Institute On Drug Abuse

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

Using our custom developed miniScope system, we imaged neuronal activity in the dorsal striatum, the nucleus accumbens, and the prefrontal cortex in freely moving mice while mice learned designed behavioral task. We concurrently recorded mice behavior performance, and compared neuronal activity to mice behavior. More recently, we developed machine learning algorithms for behavioral mapping to understand mice behavior in greater details. We identified neural ensemble organization that codes animal behavior control in these brain regions. Going forward, we will use this imaging technique to study neural coding mechanisms in rats, and their contribution in the development of long-term drug addiction and relapse.