Evolution of spatiotemporal cortical dynamics in mice learning operant motor tasks

We have developed a novel method to map cortical neuronal and hemodynamic activity in mice during operant motor tasks. Mice are trained over a 7-week period to execute a cued, center-out reaching task during concurrent wide-field optical imaging. Mice are able to execute skilled reaches upwards to 1 centimeter. Neural activity in visual, sensorimotor, and cognitive regions correspond to cue presentation followed by executed motor output. Future steps aim to apply this method to mouse models of focal ischemia to understand relations between circuit-level mechanisms of brain repair and recovery of complex motor control.