Open-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals

Abstract Here we describe the UCLA 2P Miniscope, an open-source miniature 2-photon microscope capable of recording calcium dynamics from neurons in deep structures and from dendrites over a 445 µm × 380 µm field of view. The system utilizes two on-board silicon-based photon detectors for approximate...

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Main Authors: Blake A. Madruga, Conor C. Dorian, Long Yang, Megha Sehgal, Alcino J. Silva, Matthew Shtrahman, Daniel Aharoni, Peyman Golshani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62534-y
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author Blake A. Madruga
Conor C. Dorian
Long Yang
Megha Sehgal
Alcino J. Silva
Matthew Shtrahman
Daniel Aharoni
Peyman Golshani
author_facet Blake A. Madruga
Conor C. Dorian
Long Yang
Megha Sehgal
Alcino J. Silva
Matthew Shtrahman
Daniel Aharoni
Peyman Golshani
author_sort Blake A. Madruga
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Here we describe the UCLA 2P Miniscope, an open-source miniature 2-photon microscope capable of recording calcium dynamics from neurons in deep structures and from dendrites over a 445 µm × 380 µm field of view. The system utilizes two on-board silicon-based photon detectors for approximately 4-fold greater light collection compared to an optical fiber bundle-based approach. The microscope can electronically focus within a 150 µm range at a native working distance of 720 µm. To test the 2P Miniscope, we recorded calcium dynamics from place cells in hippocampus, resolved calcium transients from dendrites in retrosplenial cortex and we recorded dentate granule cell activity at a depth of over 620 µm, through an intact hippocampus during open field behavior. The miniature microscope itself and all supporting equipment are open-source and all files needed for building the scope can be accessed through the Golshani Lab GitHub repository.
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spelling doaj-art-56dd10c009e6465a89c3ee75ba0b3c4a2025-08-20T03:43:16ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111310.1038/s41467-025-62534-yOpen-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animalsBlake A. Madruga0Conor C. Dorian1Long Yang2Megha Sehgal3Alcino J. Silva4Matthew Shtrahman5Daniel Aharoni6Peyman Golshani7Department of Neurology, UCLA School of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, UCLA School of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, UCLA School of MedicineDepartment of Neurobiology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Neurobiology, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Neurosciences, University of CaliforniaDepartment of Neurology, UCLA School of MedicineDepartment of Neurology, UCLA School of MedicineAbstract Here we describe the UCLA 2P Miniscope, an open-source miniature 2-photon microscope capable of recording calcium dynamics from neurons in deep structures and from dendrites over a 445 µm × 380 µm field of view. The system utilizes two on-board silicon-based photon detectors for approximately 4-fold greater light collection compared to an optical fiber bundle-based approach. The microscope can electronically focus within a 150 µm range at a native working distance of 720 µm. To test the 2P Miniscope, we recorded calcium dynamics from place cells in hippocampus, resolved calcium transients from dendrites in retrosplenial cortex and we recorded dentate granule cell activity at a depth of over 620 µm, through an intact hippocampus during open field behavior. The miniature microscope itself and all supporting equipment are open-source and all files needed for building the scope can be accessed through the Golshani Lab GitHub repository.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62534-y
spellingShingle Blake A. Madruga
Conor C. Dorian
Long Yang
Megha Sehgal
Alcino J. Silva
Matthew Shtrahman
Daniel Aharoni
Peyman Golshani
Open-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals
Nature Communications
title Open-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals
title_full Open-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals
title_fullStr Open-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals
title_full_unstemmed Open-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals
title_short Open-source, high performance miniature 2-photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals
title_sort open source high performance miniature 2 photon microscopy systems for freely behaving animals
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62534-y
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