We present a cost-effective, compact foot-print, and open-source Raspberry Pi-based widefield imaging system. The compact nature allows the system to be used for close-proximity dual-brain cortical mesoscale functional-imag-ing to simultaneously observe activity in two head-fixed animals in a staged social touch-like interaction. We provide all schematics, code, and protocols for a rail system where head-fixed mice are brought together to a distance where the macrovibrissae of each mouse make contact. Cortical neuronal functional signals (GCaMP6s; genetically encoded Ca2+ sensor) were recorded from both mice simultaneously before, during, and after the social contact pe-riod. When the mice were together, we observed bouts of mutual whisking and cross-mouse correlated cortical activity across the cortex. Correlations were not observed in trial-shuffled mouse pairs, suggesting that correlated activity was specific to individual interactions. Whisking-related cortical signals were observed during the period where mice were together (closest contact). The effects of social stimulus presentation extend outside of regions as-sociated with mutual touch and have global synchronizing effects on cortical activity.
CITATION STYLE
Michelson, N. J., Bolaños, F., Bolaños, L. A., Balbi, M., Ledue, J. M., & Murphy, T. H. (2023). Meso-Py: Dual Brain Cortical Calcium Imaging in Mice during Head-Fixed Social Stimulus Presentation. ENeuro, 10(12). https://doi.org/10.1523/ENEURO.0096-23.2023
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