Optoacoustic tomography in the first near infrared window (NIR I) can capture much of the mouse brain with high temporal and mesoscale spatial resolutions, making it an excellent candidate for functional neuroimaging experiments. Using fluorescent contrasts which absorb in the NIR I range, we can obtain concurrent or parallel opotacoustic and fluorescence data. Fluorescence information can then be used to validate or augment the optoacoustic data (hybrid fluorescence and optoacoustic tomography, or FLOT). Using the two modalities, we probe functional neural, vascular, and cerebrospinal fluid flow information throughout the brain.
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