High precision monitoring of brain activity?

Question

I'm wondering if there is any existing technique or process that allows for monitoring of brain activity on the cellular level. I want to be able to monitor the activity of specific brain cells, preferably with a non-invasive technique.

Answer 1

Here are the methods, the big players:

*Non-Invasive (=Skull doesn't have to be opened):
-EEG - scalp electrodes. High temporal, poor spatial resolution. Definitely not on the cell level. Reflects the activity of synchronized (>10000) activity in dendrites.
-fMRI and other Neuroimaging methods: Measures oxygen saturation as proxy for neural activity. Very coarse temporal resolution, moderate spatial resolution (about 1 mm). Definitely not on a cellular level, but on the level of columns and modules.

*Invasive (=Skull has to be removed to do it)
-Extracellular recording: Putting a (metal) microelectrode near a neuron. Advantage: Can record electrical activity from individual neurons. Drawback: Very invasive, losing the big picture as one is recording from one neuron at a time. But great spatial and temporal resolution. Measures action potentials.
-Intracellular recording: "Patching" an individual neuron with a recording device, usually a pipette. Can record membrane potentials from individual neurons. Great spatial and temporal resolution. Measures potential changes of the membrane. Drawback: Super-invasive (better done in slices than intact animals).
-Optical imaging and voltage-sensitive dyes. See above for neuroimaging, but with a better spatial and temporal resolution. Drawback: Very invasive. Only effective on the brain surface.

There are other methods like MEG or 2-Photon-Microscopy, but they are not very popular and usually share the problems of the above method.

Nothing like you desire has been invented yet. Something like that would be the holy grail. Methodologically speaking. Contact me if you want to know more.

Answer 2

well they can hook up wires to your head like on the outside and read brain activity in different areas. They have you stay up all night the night before so although I've been through it once or twice I can't remember the details.

Answer 3

well on a cellular level. i dont think three is any EVASIVE procedure or monitoring that can do that accurately.. not to mention NON evasivly. is this just for a joke or are you serious?

Answer 4

some do Other people do that when they're having petit mal seizures...