Investigating pulse architecture for two-photon microscopy to improve capture of neural signals

Two-photon microscopy is a powerful imaging technique that allows to visualize and study living cells in the brain, immune system, and skin. It currently relies on lasers that emit specific pulse durations, but other pulse configurations may work just as well or better, and can be produced with smaller, more affordable lasers. This could make two-photon microscopy more accessible, especially for medical and clinical research.
This study aims to compare the current laser pulse settings with alternative configurations to see if they deliver similar or better imaging results. To do this, we will use two-photon microscopy to capture neural signals from the retina and brain of live mice, testing different pulse settings to assess their impact on image quality and neural activity.
The project is a collaboration between the Krishnaswamy Lab at McGill University and MPB Communications. MPB will design and build three lasers with varying pulse characteristics, which will be integrated into the Krishnaswamy lab’s microscope. The research will analyze neural data and image quality across these different pulse settings to determine the optimal configuration.
This study could lead to more cost-effective and efficient methods for two-photon imaging, benefiting both basic science and clinical research.

Faculty Supervisor:

Arjun Krishnaswamy

Student:

Partner:

MPB Communications (Pointe-Claire, QC)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Information and cultural industries; Manufacturing

University:

McGill University

Program: