Fluorescence lifetime imaging of neural activity in vivo

by Adam Bowman

Tuesday Jun 30, 2026, 4:15 PM → 5:45 PM Europe/Berlin

H5 (UHG)

Fluorescence lifetime imaging is a promising technique for achieving quantitative measurements in biology. We present recent progress developing fast, all-optical methods to image nanosecond fluorescence lifetimes. Electro-optic fluorescence lifetime imaging (EO-FLIM) uses optical modulators to gate images onto standard scientific cameras, allowing lifetime estimation at every image pixel in parallel with high photon throughput. We demonstrate that EO-FLIM may be applied to wide-field imaging of genetically encoded voltage indicators expressed in the brains of awake, behaving animals, achieving picosecond lifetime resolution and kilohertz frame rates. Action potentials and subthreshold voltage features are studied in lifetime and are mapped throughout neuronal structures. Standard techniques rely on measuring ΔF/F to quantify neuronal activity. FLIM instead measures an absolute change in fluorescence lifetime without normalizing to a moving average, and it provides immunity to technical noise and motion artifacts. We also present methods to rapidly capture multi-exponential fluorescence decays, as well as compact optical modules that can be used for nanosecond imaging in any microscope.

2026-06-30-AdamBowman.pdf