Chinese Scientists Develop a One-Gram Device for Monitoring Brain Activity

Airscope is a compact optical mesoscope, a device that occupies an intermediate position between a microscope and a macroscope. It allows researchers to observe the activity of individual cells across a relatively large area of biological tissue. Unlike conventional systems, it does not require an animal’s head to be immobilized or the use of bulky cables that restrict movement.

The developers managed to reduce the system’s volume by nearly 100,000 times compared with conventional benchtop microscopes while maintaining a comparable level of neuronal signal recording quality. The device incorporates a two-megapixel image sensor and a wireless data transmission system. Artificial intelligence helped optimize the lens design, while computer vision algorithms automatically identify and continuously track individual objects in video footage.

During the experiments, the researchers attached the device to mice and allowed them to move freely through a specially designed environment containing shelters, burrows and obstacles. Using Airscope, the scientists simultaneously recorded the activity of more than 8,500 individual neurons in the animals’ cerebral cortex as they explored their surroundings.

The data enabled the team to investigate the relationship between neural network activity and social behavior in mice. The researchers plan to study the neural mechanisms underlying emotions and social interactions, which could help advance research into conditions such as depression.

According to the researchers, the technology’s potential applications extend beyond neuroscience. In the future, similar imaging systems could be used to monitor disease progression in immunology and oncology.