Neuroimaging modalities including anatomical (MRI) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), complemented by optical imaging methods including two-photon laser scanning microscopy and electrophysiology, have been at the forefront of unraveling the anatomical and functional organization of the brain. In this talk, we aim to review the main results obtained by our group and our colleagues in applying neuroimaging techniques to study the brain of small animal models, from rodents to non-human primates. We aim to show that high resolution anatomical MRI of the brain can be obtained with remarkable cytoarchitectonic detail, while fMRI can be used to study various sensory systems, including somatosensory, auditory and visual pathways. Furthermore, MRI can be used for surgical planning and to guide the placement of tracers or neurotoxins into specific regions of the brain, enabling multimodal studies and further increasing the versatility and usefulness of animal models in biomedical research. Complimentary to MRI/fMRI, two-photon laser scanning microscopy enables the simultaneous recording of neuronal activity from thousands of neurons with single cell spatial resolution. To make the most usage of two-photon microscopy, genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI) molecules allow the direct monitoring of neuronal activity in the living brain with single cell resolution. This ability urges for the development of transgenic animal models expressing GECI molecules, to enable chronic in vivo monitoring of neural activity. When combined together, the practical advantages of multi-modal neuroimaging techniques, along with the technological developments achieved in instrumentation and methodology for studying animal models make preclinical imaging an invaluable avenue in neuroscience research.

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Intramural Research Program of the NIH, NINDS.

References

No reference found.