Multi-channel fiber photometry with an sCMOS camera, Inper Signal acquisition and Inper Plot analysis for synchronized behavior, event markers and signal processing.
Inper Vista
Explore how neural activity relates to behavior in freely moving animals. Align fluorescence changes from calcium and neurotransmitter indicators with behavioral and experimental events, and compare responses across recording sites or experimental conditions to study how neural circuits contribute to behavior.
System capabilities
sCMOS imaging, multiple excitation wavelengths and synchronized acquisition connect neural signals, behavior and external equipment.
A sensitive camera captures fluorescence at up to 300 fps for standard models and 500 fps for Vista 320 P.
Model-specific combinations of 410, 470, 561 and 640 nm excitation support green, red and compatible far-red sensors.
Automatically detect fiber end faces, then adjust, add or remove ROIs. Standard configurations provide 9 channels, A models 4, with custom expansion available.
Configure each line independently as input or output to exchange TTL event signals with external equipment.
With the ADC expansion box, acquire 8 analog signals synchronously at up to 30 kHz per channel.
Record from multiple cameras together. AI tracking saves animal trajectories, with spatial events available for Marker and TTL responses.
Apply smoothing, filtering, offset subtraction, linear-fit subtraction and ΔF/F during acquisition to review signal quality.
Record continuously or in intervals. Configure start and stop independently for immediate, delayed, scheduled or external triggering.
Alternate fluorescence excitation and optogenetic stimulation to connect recording with intervention. Compatible combinations depend on the model and sensor.
How it works
Fluorescent sensors turn neural activity into light, and the fiber carries it back to the unit.
Express a calcium indicator (such as GCaMPs or RCaMPs) or a neurotransmitter sensor in the target region and implant a fiber cannula. Neural activity changes the local fluorescence intensity.
The unit delivers excitation at the selected wavelengths through the fiber;
returning fluorescence is separated by filters and recorded by the sCMOS camera.
The software subtracts background and computes ΔF/F, the relative change of fluorescence over time, for comparison with behavior and stimulus events. Example trace shown.
Optics and sensors
Compare common excitation spectra (Ex, dashed) and emission spectra (Em, solid) in one chart. Select a wavelength to highlight the corresponding curves. Excitation must match the sensor’s excitation spectrum, while the detection band must capture its emission. The curves are normalized spectral illustrations.
Multi-channel recording
One unit connects several recording sites through multiple fibers and compares their fluorescence in a single acquisition. Channel counts can be expanded on request; the drawing is schematic.
The software detects fiber end faces and draws ROIs automatically; ROIs can also be adjusted, added or removed by hand.
Inper Signal · Acquisition
Manage acquisition, live processing and start/stop conditions together. Config saves experiment settings; the interface supports English/Chinese and combined or split axes.
Set excitation, exposure, frame rate, gain and recording mode in the sidebar; the toolbar connects Video, Marker, Output and acquisition controls. The example interface shows four ROIs, populated settings and calcium-signal traces on a common time axis.
Properties provides channel calculations, Y-axis range and display height, along with filtering, smoothing and Offset settings.
Choose immediate, delayed, scheduled or external triggering independently for start and stop.
Choose the condition and channel and name the event; the unit can output TTL when the threshold is crossed. Values shown are demonstration settings.
Inper Signal · Behavior sync
Video from several cameras is saved with the fluorescence signal, so the two match on review.
Inper Signal · Event marking
Set a ΔF/F threshold to mark key signals automatically and send TTL output to other equipment. Threshold demo：Signals above the set ΔF/F are marked during acquisition, making periods worth reviewing easy to find. The threshold illustration uses two modest calcium transients with a rapid rise and slower decay. Each crossing is followed by Marker and TTL output; the trace, markers, time axis and scrollbar share the same progression.
Inper Signal · Region events
AI identifies and tracks the animal without an attached position marker. Define target regions in the video and set entry, exit or dwell-time conditions independently to add markers or send TTL output automatically, while saving the movement trajectory. CPP, RTPP, OFT and other experimental settings are supported. View animal location, event times and fluorescence together to organize experiments around specific behavioral states. The demonstration below illustrates how region conditions relate to markers and output.
Host connections
Vista brings the connections for acquisition and equipment coordination together on the rear panel. USB connects the host to the computer for instrument communication and data acquisition, digital I/O receives or sends TTL events, and Expansion connects an expansion box for synchronized analog acquisition. Compatible optogenetic equipment can join the recording path through its dedicated connection. The fiber outlet on the right delivers excitation light to the animal through a patch cord and collects returning fluorescence. Select a connection below to see its location and role.
Same-site optogenetics
Record and stimulate one region, compare responses with behavior, or trigger from signals. Excitation brackets sCMOS exposure; stimulation between acquisitions reduces interference. Schematic timing, without pulse or sampling parameters.
Extended application
Dynamic spectroscopy monitors SpO₂ in freely moving animals and captures rapid changes in blood oxygen. It can be combined with photometry and optogenetics for closed-loop applications. The animated interface example shows two calcium traces and an oxygen monitor’s analog input on a common time axis; traces, time labels and scrollbar move together. These illustrative input values are displayed in V, rather than calibrated oxygen-saturation percentages. Sensor setup, measurement site and calibration depend on the configuration.
Synchronized analog acquisition
Connect the ADC expansion box to the host to acquire analog outputs from external equipment in synchrony with photometry, including EEG, ECG and other physiological signals. The box provides 8 analog inputs at up to 30 kHz per channel. EEG and ECG enter through compatible sensors or amplifiers; sensing, input ranges and calibration depend on the configuration. The interface illustration places two calcium traces and analog voltages from EEG and ECG amplifiers on separate plots with a common timeline. The traces illustrate the interface.
Inper Plot · Analysis software
Work from project import and signal/event preprocessing through grouping, event alignment, statistics and export in one application. Export ΔF/F, Z-score, heatmaps and other results as SVG vector graphics, PNG images and data tables.
Edit handles signals, events and video; Plot handles grouping, calculations and graphs. Projects retain processed results and group information for continued analysis. Create or open an .ipproj project, import Inper Signal data and accompanying video, and inspect acquisition parameters. Compatible external electrical data can also be imported. Edit project copies while retaining the original recordings; save new data and Group information with the project.
Play, pause or stop selected data, drag the guide line to a time point and resume there. Change time formats, add or remove ruler lines, and define intervals with rulers or typed times. Export selected Signal, Event or currently displayed plot data as CSV.
Preprocessing and baseline. Set offset, filtering, smoothing, baseline correction and subtraction as one flow. Baselines include Static, Relative, Dynamic and weighted iterative fitting; interval recordings keep valid segments with one click. This animated example retains the original trace pixels and shows a pointer dragging the scrollbar, moving traces, events and the time window together.
Remove a selected section, data before the first marker in a chosen event channel, or gaps in interval recordings. Set the retained duration and correct each retained segment’s baseline. Export selected segments as Raw, ΔF/F or Z-score data.
Combine Offset, FIR filtering, smoothing, baseline correction and Control-based noise subtraction. Set frequency bands, choose median or mean smoothing and polynomial correction order, and match the control by addition or multiplication. Name results, choose colors and save processing configurations.
Add, delete or move markers using the guide line or typed times, and apply positive or negative offsets. Create event channels or import Excel time lists to align recorded markers and external events with fluorescence. Enter times in seconds, milliseconds or hours/minutes/seconds. Drag markers to move, add or delete them with millisecond precision.
Play video independently or with the selected data; seeking in the video moves the signal guide line to the matching time. Use 0.5×, 1×, 1.5× or 2× playback and custom forward/backward steps. Crop the matching selected data together with the video.
Create Groups by light source, neuron type, animal traits or treatment and add data. Select trials relative to a marker or by an absolute time region. Choose marker-relative, static or dynamic F0, and set the mean interval used for Z-score normalization.
Plot Raw, ΔF/F and Z-score traces and their averages, or create heatmaps and averaged heatmaps from the selected data source. Compare data within or across groups, adjust Y-axis and heatmap color ranges, and examine variability with SD, SEM or confidence intervals.
Calculate AUC, mean, SD and SEM for a selected interval. AUC can include positive values, negative values or both, using zero or the mean of a specified region as its baseline. Find peaks and troughs with their Value and Latency, then export the results.
Inspect MAD and set peak thresholds within a selected Region to identify spikes. Export each spike’s value and time, along with count, frequency and average. Set thresholds and windows for the analysis, and export the output as graphics or Excel tables.
Choose the search interval and F0 baseline, then define events with rate of change (ROC) and Duration. Qualifying intervals are highlighted in color. Review their timing against markers, fluorescence traces and synchronized behavioral video.
Adjust axes and heatmap color bars, export graphs as SVG or PNG, and export result data as XLSX. Keep preprocessing, grouping, statistics and event analysis in the project for review and further plotting or comparison.
Accessories and consumables
Choose a capsule to explore each accessory and its role in your experiment.
ADC expansion box Eight analog inputs at up to 30 kHz each record EEG, ECG, EOG, ECoG, ERG and similar signals, or analog outputs from oximetry and heart-rate equipment.
Dark box Blocks stray light to record a dark baseline, for 1.25 and 2.5 fiber ferrules. Record about five minutes with the fiber end in the port and use the mean as that light source's offset.
Automatic voltage adjuster Voltage mode converts other devices' outputs to TTL for markers and similar functions. Divide-by-two mode switches a 5 V high output on with one TTL input and off with the next.
Fiber patch cords Connect the Vista host to an implanted ferrule to deliver excitation and collect returning fluorescence. Match the connections to the existing interfaces and experiment layout.
Implantable fiber ferrules Provide the animal-side optical interface for connection to the patch cord. Select the appropriate specification for the target site and optical connection.
Research applications
Record fluorescence from calcium indicators and neurotransmitter sensors in freely moving animals, linking neural activity with behavior and experimental events. Explore the cards to see different research applications.
Behavioral correlation Align calcium-indicator or neurotransmitter-sensor fluorescence with animal actions, region events and stimulation times. Compare responses across experimental phases to study how neural activity relates to behavior.
Cell-type-specific function Record a targeted cell population through cell-type-specific sensor expression. Compare its activity across experimental events or interventions to investigate that population’s functional role.
Circuit connectivity studies Use synchronized recordings from multiple sites to examine how activity across brain regions relates to experimental events. Combine recording with interventions such as optogenetics to test a circuit’s functional role in behavior.
Neuropsychiatric disease models In animal models of neurological and psychiatric disease, combine behavioral tasks with activity comparisons across phases, groups or treatment conditions to investigate circuit changes associated with experimental phenotypes.
Drug screening and pharmacology In animal research, record neural signals and behavior before and after candidate-compound treatment. Compare changes in target signals and experimental phenotypes to provide functional readouts for screening and pharmacological evaluation.
sCMOS camera
410, 470 and 561 nm; the four-colour Vista 410 adds 640 nm
503–538 nm (470 nm excitation); 582–619 nm (561 nm excitation); 670–710 nm on the four-colour model
1–100 μW, 1 μW precision
1–300 fps; 500 fps on the high-frame-rate Vista 320 P
1–100 ms
1–24×
9 configurable, expandable on request; 4 on A models
8 ports, each configurable as input or output
ADC expansion box, 8 inputs, up to 30 kHz each
Vista 120, 220, 320 and 320 P include a Compact 635 laser; excitation and stimulation light alternate
Manual, delayed, scheduled, external trigger
TTL output on ΔF/F threshold crossings or zone events
Inper Signal: real-time processing and quality check, event marking, behavior sync, AI tracking, Config parameter files
Inper Plot: preprocessing and baseline, event and spike analysis, group statistics, synchronized video playback
ΔF/F, Z-score, heatmaps and more as SVG vector graphics
Online (OTA) updates
Vista 110, 110 A, 120, 210, 210 A, 220, 310, 310 A, 320, 320 P
Fiber photometry unit ×1
UT385 ×1
A9644 ×20
SCH-1.25 ×1
Low-autofluorescence single-channel patch cord 844A8 ×1
Black sleeves MS125 ×100
Inper Signal and Inper Plot, one licence each (installed from USB drive)
Compact 635 laser ×1
16 GB or more
Windows 10
At least one USB 3.0
Intel Core i7 or better recommended
Dedicated graphics card
