Currently, countries around the world have launched their own brain plans and listed neuroscience research as a strategic development direction. For example, in 2013, the United States launched the BRAIN Initiative (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies, carrying out brain research through promoting innovative neurotechnologies) plan; in 2021, China launched Science and Technology Innovation 2030 - a major plan for "brain science and brain-inspired research". "Neurophotonics" came into being and has developed rapidly in recent years, becoming an emerging cutting-edge interdisciplinary subject. Neurophotonics research will not only help reveal the laws of brain cognitive development and provide evidence for disease diagnosis and treatment, but will also promote the development of brain-computer interfaces, artificial intelligence and other fields. However, there are no relevant monographs in the world that systematically introduce this emerging discipline.
Since the fall semester of 2018, Tsinghua University has launched the "Neurophotonics" course for graduate students (or senior undergraduates) in optical engineering, biomedical engineering and other majors to introduce "Neurophotonics" to graduate students or senior undergraduates in related majors. "Study" biological background knowledge, related research techniques, and explore future development directions.
"Neurophotonics" is a discipline that uses optical technology to carry out neuroscience research. The content mainly includes the use of optical technology to image neural structure and function and the use of optical technology to control neural activity. This course starts from the significance and methods of brain science research and introduces the irreplaceable advantages of neurophotonics research. It then discusses tissue optics and introduces the rules of light propagation in neural tissue based on the basic knowledge of neurobiology. Then, it starts from linear The two aspects of optics and nonlinear optics introduce neural structure and functional imaging technology; in addition, a neural activity manipulation technology - optogenetics technology is introduced; finally, the current research hotspots and future development directions of neurophotonics are discussed.
This course is designed to introduce neuroscience to graduate students or senior undergraduates majoring in optical engineering, biomedical engineering, etc., and discuss new optical technologies and their application prospects in brain science research. It can also be used for graduate students majoring in neurobiology. Fundamentals of commonly used optical techniques provide opportunities. Through the study of this course, students can enhance their theoretical foundation and practical ability in the interdisciplinary subject of neurophotonics.
With the funding of the Tsinghua University Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Project (2019), this course has accumulated relevant course recording materials, which are now shared here in the hope of exchange and learning with peers and experts.
