I have spent over eight years in functional spectroscopy, always seeking ways to see more, capture more, and understand more. During my PhD, I implemented two-color wide-field optical mapping (WFOM) –– a technique that allows simultaneous recording of functional activity in two distinct neural populations with stunning clarity.




Custom 2-color imaging setup














               
             Example of mouse cortical imaging captured by two-color WFOM:



The left panel shows neural activity from all excitatory neurons, representing overall cortical functions, while the center highlights a specific subset – corticospinal neurons involved in controling right forelimb movement. The right panel displays cortical blood flow. All three signals were imaged simultaneously using interlaced acquisition. Blood flow, which supplies nutrients to neurons, was measured using intrinsic signals derived from the light absorption properties of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin.


For more scientific insights gained from using this technique, please see Science page.