A team led by Stanford University has introduced cutting-edge optical technology that vividly images brain waves in mice, offering new insights for disease research and AI development.
Scientists have once again pushed the boundaries of neuroimaging, this time with a groundbreaking optical technology that captures the intricate motion of brain waves in ways never seen before. Developed by a Stanford University-led team, this innovative method could significantly advance research in brain diseases and artificial intelligence.
The study, published in the journal Cell, introduces two ultra-sensitive optical instruments capable of detecting signals from genetically engineered proteins called voltage indicators. These instruments can reveal the detailed activities of neurons in the brains of mice.
“This technology allows us to look at multiple brain areas at once and see the brain waves sweeping across the cortex with cell-type specificity,” senior author Mark J. Schnitzer, a professor of biology and applied physics in Stanford’s School of Humanities and Sciences, said in a news release.
Unlike traditional electrical methods like electroencephalography (EEG), which detect individual spots of brain activity, Schnitzer’s team employs light-based technology to image brain waves as they travel. This novel technique provides a real-time look at waves tied to specific neuron types.
The significance of brain waves, first identified over a century ago by German physician Hans Berger, is immense. Scientists now understand that abnormalities in these waves are linked to various diseases, including Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy and schizophrenia.
However, pinpointing the exact neuron types responsible for these waves has been challenging — until now.
This new technology could open many avenues for neuroscience research and artificial intelligence development.
“There are a lot of very important applications in the field of neuroscience for understanding pathology and different dynamics in the brain,” added lead author Simon Haziza, a Stanford research scientist.
This breakthrough stems from over a decade of work on optical imaging techniques called TEMPO. First reported in 2016, the latest instruments include a fiber optic sensor — 10 times more sensitive than previous versions — and an optical mesoscope, capable of providing an 8 mm-wide image of the mouse brain’s neocortex.
Credit: Video by the Schnitzer Lab/Stanford University; copyright the journal Cell
With these tools, the researchers observed several previously undetected waves. Among them were two types of higher frequency beta waves, associated with alert mental activity, traveling at right angles, and a low-frequency theta wave, traditionally linked to memory processing, moving in reverse — a phenomenon that may mirror learning processes in artificial intelligence.
“It seems the brain has an internal clock that synchronizes neural activity, but these traveling waves may also actively reorganize neural circuits across large distances, beyond just local connections,” added co-lead author Radosław Chrapkiewicz, a director of engineering in Schnitzer’s lab.
The implications of these findings are vast. Understanding these new brain wave patterns could illuminate the underlying mechanisms of neural disorders and inspire the creation of more sophisticated bio-inspired AI models.
While the research is still in its infancy, the potential applications are promising.
“We are just scratching the surface,” Haziza added.
Schnitzer also credits Vasily Kruzhilin, a doctoral student in applied physics, and Yanping Zhang, a biology research specialist, for their significant contributions. Additional co-authors include Jane Li, Jizhou Li and Geoffroy Delamare from Stanford, as well as collaborators from the Allen Institute of Brain Science, New York University and the University of Minnesota.