A head-mounted open-source light field microscope for large volumetric Ca²⁺ imaging during exploratory and social behavior in mice.

Authors

Hao Li, Tobias Nöbauer, Hossein Sarafraz, Alipasha Vaziri

Published in

Cell reports. Volume 45. Issue 10. Pages 118066. Sep 29, 2026. Epub Sep 29, 2026.

Abstract

Capturing neuronal activity during natural behaviors in unrestrained animals is critical for understanding brain function, yet existing imaging systems struggle to combine volumetric field-of-view (v-FOV), high resolution, depth, and usability. We present MiniLFMv2, a lightweight, next-generation miniaturized light field microscope enabling volumetric imaging with a v-FOV of ⌀1 × 0.2 mm³, volume rates of up to 30 Hz and depth to ∼350-400 μm. MiniLFMv2 achieves near-diffraction-limited performance, with a working distance of 1 mm. Its custom aspheric lenses and electrically tunable lens eliminate the need for GRIN optics, improving compatibility with cranial window imaging. Applying MiniLFMv2 in freely moving mice, we captured activity from hundreds of parietal cortex neurons at depths up to ∼400 μm with minimal impact on mobility. During exploratory and social behaviors, we identified subpopulations selectively tuned to locomotion, rearing, and social investigation. MiniLFMv2 offers a powerful tool for investigating neural dynamics during naturalistic and social behaviors.

PMID:
42809438
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Sep 2026.

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