NeuBtracker-imaging neurobehavioral dynamics in freely behaving fish

Nat Methods. 2017 Nov;14(11):1079-1082. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.4459. Epub 2017 Oct 2.

Abstract

A long-standing objective in neuroscience has been to image distributed neuronal activity in freely behaving animals. Here we introduce NeuBtracker, a tracking microscope for simultaneous imaging of neuronal activity and behavior of freely swimming fluorescent reporter fish. We showcase the value of NeuBtracker for screening neurostimulants with respect to their combined neuronal and behavioral effects and for determining spontaneous and stimulus-induced spatiotemporal patterns of neuronal activation during naturalistic behavior.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Microscopy / methods
  • Neurons / physiology
  • Swimming / physiology