Szalay, G. Neuron 92, 723–738 (2016);

Nadella, K.M.N.S. et al. Nat. Methods 13, 1001–1004 (2016).

Random-access microscopy with acousto-optic lenses operates at a speed of tens of kilohertz and is therefore ideally suited for measuring neural activity. However, random-access microscopy involves jumping between measurement points, which can easily lead to motion artifacts in behaving animals. Szalay et al. and Nadella et al. independently came up with similar strategies to overcome this limitation. Both research groups developed acousto-optic lens microscopes that are capable of line scanning at high speed. This makes it possible to scan small areas or volumes covering cell bodies or other regions of neurons and to implement motion-correction algorithms, enabling high-speed acquisition of neural activity in behaving animals. Both research groups apply their approaches in mice expressing GCaMP6 in their brains.