Recent developments in VSD imaging of small neuronal networks

Abstract

Voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) imaging is a powerful technique that can provide, in single experiments, a large-scale view of network activity unobtainable with traditional sharp electrode recording methods. Here we review recent work using VSDs to study small networks and highlight several results from this approach. Topics covered include circuit mapping, network multifunctionality, the network basis of decision making, and the presence of variably participating neurons in networks. Analytical tools being developed and applied to large-scale VSD imaging data sets are discussed, and the future prospects for this exciting field are considered.

A multiresolution approach to the extraction of the pyloric rhythm

“…This paper describes our work toward the development of a reliable and computationally robust methodology to identify the neurons contributing to the pyloric rhythm by analysing voltage-sensitive dye imaging (VSDi) data recorded from the crab STG. Briefly, VSDi is an experimental technique adopted in the past few decades to facilitate both in vivo and in vitro studies of many different biological tissues, including the analysis of small invertebrate neural circuits [5], [6]. In particular, fast response voltage-sensitive dyes (VSDs) have been used as chemical probes that attach to cell membranes and change their fluorescence or absorbance, in response to electrical field changes registered in the transmembrane potential [7].…”

A robust data-driven approach to the decoding of pyloric neuron activity

“…Voltage sensitive dye imaging (VSDi), an optical recording technique which can in principle report the membrane potential of multiple neurons, offers a promising alternative. Until recently, however, its use is largely confined to supplement intracellular recordings by enhancing the visibility of fine neural structures through staining and, to some extent, improving the signal-to-noise ratio in order to identify neurons in single-sweep recordings and synaptic events following the application of the so-called event/spike triggered averaging procedure [6]- [11].…”

Monitoring Spiking Activity of Many Individual Neurons in Invertebrate Ganglia

“…While most such studies have used invertebrate preparations, particularly those with large neurons whose action potentials fully invade the soma (Boyle et al 1983; London et al 1987; Cohen et al 1989; Zecevic et al 1989; Nakashima et al 1992; Wu et al 1994; Nikitin and Balaban 2000; Zochowski et al 2000a; Brown et al 2001; Kojima et al 2001; Frost et al 2007), a few studies have accomplished this in vertebrate preparations, such as the enteric nervous system ganglia (Neunlist et al 1999; Obaid et al 1999; Vanden Berghe et al 2001; Schemann et al 2002). See (Hill et al 2014) for a recent review of VSD imaging in small neuronal networks.…”