Photo credit: Yi Xue, et. al.
MIT engineers and neuroscientists used a new “multiline orthogonal scanning temporal focusing” (mosTF) technology to observe synapses in the living brain. Put simply, it functions by scanning brain tissue with lines of light in perpendicular directions that excite photon emission from brain cells specially engineered to fluoresce when stimulated.
What you’re looking at above is a neuron imaged with multiline orthogonal scanning temporal focusing (mosTF) on the left, while the right image shows the same neuron imaged with line-scanning temporal focusing microscope (lineTF). One caveat is that the speed of mosTF is still limited by needing to use high-sensitivity, low-noise cameras that are often slow. Engineers are currently working on a next-generation system with new type of detectors such as hybrid photomultiplier or avalanche photodiode arrays that are both sensitive and fast.
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Tracking rapid changes in circuit structure in the context of the living brain remains a challenge. While two-photon microscopy is the only method that allows high-resolution visualization of synapses deep in scattering tissue, such as the brain, the required point-by-point scanning is mechanically slow. The mosTF system significantly reduces scan time without sacrificing resolution,” said the researchers.
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