Electrophysiology using coaxial atom probe array: Live imaging reveals hidden circuits of a hippocampal neural network

Abstract

Since the 1960s, it is held that when a neuron fires, a nerve spike passes only through the selective branches, the calculated choice is a key to learning by rewiring. It is argued by chemically estimating the membrane's ion channel density that different axonal branches get active to pass the spike -branches blink at firing at different time domains. Here, using a new time-lapse dielectric imaging, we visualize the classic branch selection process, hidden circuits operating at different time domains become visible. The fractal grid of coaxial probes captures wireless snapshots of material's vibration at various depths below the membrane by setting a suitable frequency. Thus far, branch selection observed emitted energy or particle but never the emitters, what they do. Since each dielectric material transmits & reflects signals of different frequencies, we image live how filaments search for many branch-made-circuits, choose an unique pathway 103 times faster than a single nerve spike. It reveals that neural branches and circuit visible in a microscope is not absolute, there coexist many circuits each operating in different dime domains, operating at a time.