Wide-field imaging of cortical neuronal activity with red-shifted functional indicators during motor task execution

Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) can be used to monitor the intracellular concentration of free calcium in populations of neurons. GECIs with long emission wavelengths are particularly attractive for deep tissue microscopy in vivo, and have the additional advantage of avoiding spectral overlap with commonly used neuronal actuators such as channelrhodopsin.