Techniques
2-photon Calcium Imaging
We used CRISPR to express the calcium indicator gCaMP6 in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, allowing us to image neural activity in the brain while presenting sensory stimuli.
Immunohistochemistry
We apply fluorescently tagged antibodies against neuromodulators and other proteins involved in learning and memory to visualize their locations in the brain.
3-Dimensional Reconstruction
Reconstruction software allows us to convert image stacks of brain structures into 3D models used to understand spatial relationships and volumes of neural tissues.
Behavior
We assay animal behaviors including movement of limbs, head, or wings and performance in mazes, then analyze differences in these behaviors due to learning or induced physiological changes.
Histology
We use chemical stains and dyes to visualize neural structures at different microscopic scales:
• Gross anatomy
• Cell morphology
• Sub-cellular structures