An in vivo optical system: Control and monitor cortical activity with improved laser speckle contrast imaging and optogenetics

An integrated optical system combining optogenetics and laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) method was explored. For the first time, LSCI was demonstrated capable of revealing the modulated neuronal behavior induced by light activated halorhodopsin - a light sensitive chloride pump. Decreased amplitude and extent of both cerebral blood flow response and oxy-hemoglobin concentration response were revealed when halorhodopsin was activated during the electrical forepaw stimulation. The combination of fast transient neuronal manipulation technique-optogenetics with the high spatio-temporal resolution, wide field of view and minimum invasive imaging method LSCI, brings unique insights into studies on basic brain studies, neurovascular coupling and neurological diseases.