FURI | Spring 2019

A Combined Optical and Electrical Probe for Electrophysiology

Electrical recordings of individual neurons deep within the brain are key to enhancing understanding of neuronal dynamics. Unfortunately, optical microscopy, which is used to visualize neurons during the recording process, is limited to penetration depths of 500 to 1000 μm due to the optical scattering properties of biological tissues. In this work, researchers use an integrated optical waveguide to direct light into tissues and transmit the resulting emission. This new tool offers a means of visualizing neurons at depths unachievable by conventional optical microscopy and carries great potential for automation.