Techniques
Behavioural analysis
Using rat and mouse models we perform a wide-range of behavioural assays to assess learning and memory
These include:
- Contextual fear conditioning
- Spatial learning
- Operant conditioning
-Touchscreen based conditioning
Tissue Clearing
To facilitate analysis of brain-wide activity patterns, brain vasculature and neuonal morphology we have pioneered and apply various tissue clearing methods. These methods provide
Optogenetic and chemogenetic manipulation
Optogenetics and Chemogenetics (e.g. DREADDs) are powerful tools that allow for targeted manipulations of neuron activity in region specific or genetically defined populations of neurons. These constructs can be expressed in transgenic mice or delivered using Viral expression systems.
Tissue Registration and Segmentation
Our lab has developed several approaches to perform atlas registration and segmentation in order to study brain-wide distribution of neuron activity and pathological markers.
We recently published an open source tool for simplified atlas registration called FASTMAP.
Network Analysis
Using brain-wide quantifcation of immediate early gene markers we can analyze functional connectivity using Graph theory and related techniques.
Histology and Microscopy
We employ a variety of sophisticated microscopy techniques to analyze structural and functional changes related to learning and memory
These include:
- Lightsheet Microscopy
- Confocal Imaging
- Super Resolution Imaging
Fiber Photometry
We use multi-region fiber photometry to assess activity changes and correlated activity in different brain areas. This approach uses implanted optical probes to measure fluorescent calcium indicators as a proxy for neuronal activity. These constructs can be expressed in transgenic mice or delivered using Viral expression systems.
Miniature Microscopes
Head-mounted miniscopes allow for in vivo calcium imaging of freely moving behaving mice.