Through the looking glass: A review of cranial window technology for optical access to the brain

Samuel W Cramer; Russell E Carter; Justin D Aronson; Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah; Timothy J Ebner; Clark C Chen

doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109100

Through the looking glass: A review of cranial window technology for optical access to the brain

J Neurosci Methods. 2021 Apr 15:354:109100. doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2021.109100. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Authors

Samuel W Cramer¹, Russell E Carter², Justin D Aronson², Suhasa B Kodandaramaiah³, Timothy J Ebner⁴, Clark C Chen⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Mayo D429, MMC 96, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
² Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Room 421, 2001 Sixth Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455 MN, USA.
³ Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA; Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN, USA.
⁴ Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Room 421, 2001 Sixth Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455 MN, USA. Electronic address: ebner001@umn.edu.
⁵ Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, Mayo D429, MMC 96, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. Electronic address: ccchen@umn.edu.

Abstract

Deciphering neurologic function is a daunting task, requiring understanding the neuronal networks and emergent properties that arise from the interactions among single neurons. Mechanistic insights into neuronal networks require tools that simultaneously assess both single neuron activity and the consequent mesoscale output. The development of cranial window technologies, in which the skull is thinned or replaced with a synthetic optical interface, has enabled monitoring neuronal activity from subcellular to mesoscale resolution in awake, behaving animals when coupled with advanced microscopy techniques. Here we review recent achievements in cranial window technologies, appraise the relative merits of each design and discuss the future research in cranial window design.

Keywords: Cranial window; Imaging window; In vivo imaging; Neuromodulation; Neurophysiology; Optical imaging.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Brain*
Microscopy
Neurons
Skull*
Technology

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding