Photoacoustic Neuroimaging - Perspectives on a Maturing Imaging Technique and its Applications in Neuroscience

Silviu Vasile Bodea, Gil Gregor Westmeyer

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

A prominent goal of neuroscience is to improve our understanding of how brain structure and activity interact to produce perception, emotion, behavior, and cognition. The brain’s network activity is inherently organized in distinct spatiotemporal patterns that span scales from nanometer-sized synapses to meter-long nerve fibers and millisecond intervals between electrical signals to decades of memory storage. There is currently no single imaging method that alone can provide all the relevant information, but intelligent combinations of complementary techniques can be effective. Here, we thus present the latest advances in biomedical and biological engineering on photoacoustic neuroimaging in the context of complementary imaging techniques. A particular focus is placed on recent advances in whole-brain photoacoustic imaging in rodent models and its influential role in bridging the gap between fluorescence microscopy and more non-invasive techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We consider current strategies to address persistent challenges, particularly in developing molecular contrast agents, and conclude with an overview of potential future directions for photoacoustic neuroimaging to provide deeper insights into healthy and pathological brain processes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number655247
JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience
Volume15
DOIs
StatePublished - 10 Jun 2021

Keywords

  • brain tumors
  • calcium and voltage sensors
  • functional brain imaging
  • image-guided therapy
  • molecular contrast agents
  • optoacoustic imaging
  • stroke
  • translational photoacoustic imaging

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