AUTHOR=Zeng Hang , Jiang Yuanyuan , Beer-Hammer Sandra , Yu Xin 

TITLE=Awake Mouse fMRI and Pupillary Recordings in the Ultra-High Magnetic Field

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 16 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.886709

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2022.886709

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=Awake rodent fMRI is becoming a promising noninvasive brain imaging module when investigating large-scale brain function given behavioral tasks. Previous studies have either applied sedatives during scanning or pre-treatment of anesthetics, e.g. isoflurane, to reduce the motion of animals, which could confound the brain function of ‘awake’ states in rodents. Meanwhile, the real-time stress level of awake rodents during scanning has seldom been investigated. Here, we have established a long training awake mouse fMRI-pupillometry paradigm/setup without the initial use of anesthesia. To validate the awake mouse fMRI platform, evoked BOLD-fMRI was performed to identify brain activation in the visual cortex, dorsal lateral geniculate nuclei, and superior colliculus. Furthermore, pupil signal fluctuation was investigated during scanning, showing less dilated pupil after 5-8 weeks of intermittent training. Thus, the awake mouse fMRI with real-time pupillometry provides a longitudinal functional mapping tool to study fully conscious mice.