Grinvald A, Lieke E, Frostig R D, Gilbert C D, Wiesel T N
Nature. 1986;324(6095):361-4. doi: 10.1038/324361a0.
Optical imaging of cortical activity offers several advantages over conventional electrophysiological and anatomical techniques. One can map a relatively large region, obtain successive maps to different stimuli in the same cortical area and follow variations in response over time. In the intact mammalian brain this imaging has been accomplished with the aid of voltage sensitive dyes. However, it has been known for many years that some intrinsic changes in the optical properties of the tissue are dependent on electrical or metabolic activity. Here we show that these changes can be used to study the functional architecture of cortex. Optical maps of whisker barrels in the rat and the orientation columns in the cat visual cortex, obtained by reflection measurements of the intrinsic signal, were confirmed with voltage sensitive dyes or by electrophysiological recordings. In addition, we describe an intrinsic signal originating from small arteries which can be used to investigate the communication between local neuronal activity and the microvasculature. One advantage of the method is that it is non-invasive and does not require dyes, a clear benefit for clinical applications.
与传统的电生理和解剖学技术相比，皮层活动的光学成像具有几个优点。人们可以绘制一个相对较大的区域，在同一皮层区域获得针对不同刺激的连续图谱，并跟踪随时间变化的反应。在完整的哺乳动物大脑中，这种成像借助电压敏感染料得以实现。然而，多年来人们已经知道，组织光学特性的一些内在变化取决于电活动或代谢活动。在这里，我们表明这些变化可用于研究皮层的功能结构。通过对内在信号的反射测量获得的大鼠触须桶和猫视觉皮层中方位柱的光学图谱，用电压敏感染料或电生理记录得到了证实。此外，我们描述了一种源自小动脉的内在信号，它可用于研究局部神经元活动与微血管系统之间的通信。该方法的一个优点是它是非侵入性的，并且不需要染料，这显然有利于临床应用。
