Imaging techniques in insects

Abstract

The present chapter describes how to apply optical neuroimaging to study brain lateralization in insects. It provides two complete protocols, one for in vivo imaging to obtain information on functional lateralization, and one on histochemical techniques to study morphological asymmetries. Both sections start with the animal preparation, and illustrate the different possibilities for brain tissue labeling. Then, imaging techniques are presented, concentrating on wide-field fluorescence microscopy, confocal, and two-photon laser scanning microscopy. After some remarks on the main methods for data analysis, studies on functional and morphological lateralization in insects are reviewed.