Two-photon Calcium Imaging in Mice Navigating a Virtual Reality Environment

The overall goal of the following experiment is to perform the key aspects of chronic two photon imaging in mice, exploring a virtual reality environment. This is achieved by modifying a two photon microscope for fast and stable imaging in behaving mice. Next, an air supported treadmill capable of locomotion tracking is set up.

Then a virtual reality environment is prepared that uses an LED projector synchronized to the microscope in order to minimize light leak. As a result, good and stable image recordings are obtained due to the reduction of movement artifacts, the reduction of light leak, and the minimization of photo damage edge. Although this method can be used to measure neuroactivity during navigation in a virtual reality environment, it can also be easily adapted to a wide variety of different behavioral paradigms that require visual stimulation.