System for researching of functions of neural circuits and regulation of animal behaviors and activities

Abstract

The invention relates to fields like biology, medical science, neural science, etc. and discloses a system for researching of neural circuits and regulation of animal behaviors. According to the invention, visualization of cells and selection of cells of interests in a great perspective are realized; different patterns of rapid photostimulation on sample cells disposed on a fast high-precision two-dimensional electronic-control translation table are dynamically carried out; based on recorded electrophysiological signals or behavioral characteristics and the used stimulus patterns, the system is used for analyzing a selected specific neuronal projection relationship and for researching the processes of operation and integration of neurons, thereby further revealing the functions of a great specific neural circuit and regulating animal behaviors and activities.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the fields of biology, neuroscience, medicine, etc., and especially relates to the field of application of optogenetics technology. Background technique [0002] The human brain is composed of nearly 100 billion nerve cells. Neurons form a network through synapses, communicate with each other, transmit information, and form sensory, motor and other systems. Each system can be divided into several subsystems, such as vision in the senses. , Smell, hearing, taste and body surface touch, etc., the implementation of its functions depends on the precise connection between different types of cells in different parts of the nervous system. Neural circuits are the bridge between molecular and cellular functions and overall behavioral functions. The study of specific functional neural circuits is conducive to understanding the formation and modification of neural circuits, information encoding, processing and processing, and the...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

From the perspective of genetic technology, a variety of light-sensitive channels have been developed, which can be conveniently expressed on cultured cells or in living animals; from the perspective of light stimulation technology, the current light stimulation methods have limitations, such as wide-field stimulation mode , although it can activate or inhibit neurons, it will activate the entire animal sample or the entire neural circuit, and cannot achieve selective light stimulation activation of specific cells or a group of cells; such as using scanning mirrors, acousto-optic deflectors, and light-emitting diode arrays , Spatial light modulator, liquid crystal or micro-mirror technology, although it can realize the stimulation and activation of cells with high spatio-temporal resolution, it usually must be combined with an inverted or upright fluorescence microscope, which is only suitable for the stimulation and activation of cultured cells and brain slices. There is a small range of light stimulation, which is not suitable for studying large neural networks and regulating the behavior of living animals

These limit the application of optogenetic techniques in the study of neural circuits

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