CBM Seminar Series – Imaging Neuronal Activity with Two-Photon Microscopy in Behaving Mice

The College of Biomedicine was pleased to host Professor Bernd Kuhn from the OIST Graduate University, Okinawa, Japan, as a distinguished speaker in the CBM Seminar Series on 23 February 2026. Professor Kuhn’s work focuses on the development and application of advanced optical methods to visualize neuronal activity during animal behavior.

In his talk entitled "Imaging Neuronal Activity with Two-Photon Microscopy in Behaving Mice", Professor Kuhn introduced the principles of two-photon microscopy and its application in visualizing neuronal structure and function in vivo. He explained how the technique, combined with fluorescent sensors, enables three-dimensional reconstruction of neurons and the monitoring of neuronal activity in awake animals.

Professor Kuhn presented examples from his laboratory demonstrating calcium and voltage imaging experiments in the cerebellar and cerebral cortex of behaving mice. He highlighted how two-photon microscopy can be integrated with behavioral experiments to study neuronal activity across cellular compartments and large neuronal populations, providing valuable insights into brain function during behavior.

The seminar stimulated active discussion and highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in advancing neuroimaging technologies and understanding neural circuit dynamics.