A breakthrough in two-photon microscopy has set record imaging speeds allowing researchers to observe fast biological occurrences. Previously, these biological wonders would have been too quick to catch on older microscopy techniques. Researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong have combined a computational imaging technique, compressive imaging, with a faster screening protocol.
The new method is five times faster than previous methods. First author on the study, Chenyang Wen said, “This new compressive sensing-based two-photon microscopy method will be useful for visualizing a neural network or monitoring activity from hundreds of neurons simultaneously. Typically, neurons transmit signals on a time scale of 10 milliseconds, which conventional systems are too slow to follow."