Abstract: Neural population dynamics in deep regions of the brain play fundamental roles in crucial brain functions, from decision making to the processing of sensory information. A fundamental prerequisite to understand how neuronal population dynamics in the deep brain control such important behavioral processes is to sample large neuronal networks with high and homogeneous spatial resolution and minimal invasiveness. Current techniques based on two-photon microendoscopy are limited in achieving this goal. In this talk, I will present the development of aberration corrected microendoscopes to perform two-photon functional imaging over extended field-of-views in the deep brain of both head fixed mice and freely moving animals. 

Dr. Tommaso Fellin leads the Optical Approaches to Brain Function Lab at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa. His team develops optical tools to watch and manipulate brain activity, exploring how neural circuits shape behavior.