Illuminating the Brain: Mapping and Manipulating Neural Activity in 3D

Two-photon microscopy has been instrumental in neuroscience, revealing insights into perception, computation, and connectivity across diverse models. In particular, Ca2+ imaging has provided unprecedented resolution and precision at the scale of small networks, single cells, dendrites, and individual spines. Light-based manipulations, such as optogenetics, have enabled real-time circuit perturbations from single synapses to entire ensembles. Mann describes how advanced two-photon microscopy systems support modern imaging and stimulation experiments, offering high-speed acquisition, deep tissue penetration, and precise control for probing neural function.

About the presenter
Kevin Mann, Ph.D., received his doctorate from the University of California, Berkeley under the guidance of Kristin Scott, Ph.D., where he studied fundamental behaviors in Drosophila using genetics, multiphoton microscopy, and electrophysiology. Next, he moved on to postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Tom Clandinin, Ph.D. at Stanford University. Collaboratively he developed a method for whole-brain calcium imaging to detail the intrinsic functional neuronal network in Drosophila. He has been the applications scientist for multiphoton microscopy at Bruker now since May 2022, and he now lives to make sure that your experiments are running smoothly and that we're innovating to support the future of neuroscience research.