The present invention is directed to various methods involving nonlinear microscopy and dyes that are sensitive to fast cellular membrane potential signals and capable of generating nonlinear optical signals. The present invention includes methods of producing high spatiotemporal resolution images of electrical activity in cellular tissue, as well as methods of detecting and investigating disease within a particular cellular tissue of a living organism. The present invention further relates to methods of detecting membrane potential signal changes in a neuron or a part of a neuron, as well as in a population of cells.
NONLINEAR OPTICAL DETECTION OF FAST CELLULAR ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY