Cellular resolution functional imaging in behaving rats using voluntary head restraint. Author Benjamin Scott, Carlos Brody, David Tank Publication Year 2013 Type Journal Article Abstract High-throughput operant conditioning systems for rodents provide efficient training on sophisticated behavioral tasks. Combining these systems with technologies for cellular resolution functional imaging would provide a powerful approach to study neural dynamics during behavior. Here we describe an integrated two-photon microscope and behavioral apparatus that allows cellular resolution functional imaging of cortical regions during epochs of voluntary head restraint. Rats were trained to initiate periods of restraint up to 8 s in duration, which provided the mechanical stability necessary for in vivo imaging while allowing free movement between behavioral trials. A mechanical registration system repositioned the head to within a few microns, allowing the same neuronal populations to be imaged on each trial. In proof-of-principle experiments, calcium-dependent fluorescence transients were recorded from GCaMP-labeled cortical neurons. In contrast to previous methods for head restraint, this system can be incorporated into high-throughput operant conditioning systems. Keywords Animals, Male, Rats, Conditioning, Operant, Evoked Potentials, Visual, Functional Neuroimaging, Head, Immobilization, Molecular Imaging, Visual Cortex Journal Neuron Volume 80 Issue 2 Pages 371-84 Date Published 2013 Oct 16 ISSN Number 1097-4199 DOI 10.1016/j.neuron.2013.08.002 Alternate Journal Neuron PMCID PMC4068252 PMID 24055015 PubMedPubMed CentralGoogle ScholarBibTeXEndNote X3 XML