# CRCNS: Real-time neural decoding for calcium imaging

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2020 · $227,854

## Abstract

Program Director/Principal Investigator (Last, First, Middle): Chen, Rong
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
A. BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE
Real-time neural decoding centers on predicting behavior variables based on neural activity data,
where the prediction is performed at a pace that reliably keeps up with the speed of the activity
that is being monitored. Neuromodulation devices are becoming one of the most powerful tools
for the treatment of brain disorders, enhancing neurocognitive performance, and demonstrating
causality (Bergmann et al., 2016; Knotkova and Rasche, 2015). A precise neuromodulation
system (Figure 1) integrates neural activity monitoring, real-time neural decoding, and
neuromodulation. In precise neuromodulation, a decoding device predicts a behavior variable
based on neural data streams in real-time. Based on the decoding results, neuromodulation
parameters such as timing, frequency, duration, and amplitude are changed. Precise
neuromodulation systems with closed-loop real-time feedback are superior to the fixed (open-
loop) neuromodulation paradigm (Brocker et al., 2017; deBettencourt et al., 2015; Ezzyat et al.,
2017). A recent direct brain stimulation study (Ezzyat et al., 2017) demonstrated significant
advantages of precise neuromodulation over open-loop neuromodulation. Ezzyat et al. applied
direct brain stimulation with decoding capability to patients with epilepsy to improve their memory.
They found that stimulation increased memory function only if delivered when the decoding device
indicated low encoding efficiency while stimulation decreased memory function if delivered when
the decoding device indicated high encoding efficiency. An open-loop neuromodulation system
with a fixed stimulation paradigm may not always facilitate memory function.
 Miniature cellular imaging (Ghosh et al., 2011; Kerr and Nimmerjahn, 2012; Scott et al., 2013)
is one of the most powerful ways to study neural circuits. It enables us to investigate neural circuits
during behaviors for an understanding of network architecture of behavior, cognition, and emotion.
Miniature cellular imaging records neuronal activity at cellular and sub-second levels of spatial
and temporal resolution in freely moving animals. Miniature cellular imaging has many
advantages. First, compared with in vivo multi-electrode recording, miniature calcium imaging can
probe all cells in the field of view, and visualize the spatial location of monitored cells (Kerr et al.,
2005). Second, compared with magnetic resonance imaging, which measures brain activity at the
macroscopic scale and with low temporal resolution, miniature cellular imaging provides high
spatial and temporal resolution. Third, fiber photometry (Cui et al., 2014) lacks cellular-level
resolution, while miniature cellular imaging allows concurrent tracking of neural calcium activities
at cellular spatial resolution.
Simultaneous neural activity
monitoring and intetvention
Stimulation Calcium
imaging
Real-time
decoding syst...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10001622
- **Project number:** 5R01NS110421-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** SHUVRA S BHATTACHARYYA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $227,854
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10001622

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10001622, CRCNS: Real-time neural decoding for calcium imaging (5R01NS110421-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10001622. Licensed CC0.

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