This service facilitates real-time study for the functional activity of genetically identified cell populations and neuronal circuits involved in specific behavioural processes and their alteration in neurodegenerative and pathological processes. In principle, this unit begins with two two-photon microscopes, one for studies in awake animals (fixed head) and the other for ex vivo studies, and it is expanded according to the needs of the researchers.

The systems can be used for functional calcium imaging of genetic markers, allowing visualization of specific cell populations. Moreover, the progressive implementation of all-optical systems has been planned, which in turn allows the simultaneous stimulation of cells by means of optogenetics (modified opsins). The microscopes have controlled holography modules that offer the possibility of stimulating groups of neurons (20 to 100 neurons), for the functional study of cellular circuits and networks. The service also has miniaturized microscopes (endomicroscopes) of one or two photons for recording populations of individual neurons in rodents in free movement, allowing the longitudinal analysis of cellular activity during different cognitive and emotional processes. This is a new tool that can obtain very high-resolution images, and this technique probably constitutes a revolution in endomicroscopy, since it means macroscopic and microscopic vision can be integrated in real time.