9th Annual Neurophotonics Symposium

The Boston University Neurophotonics Center and Hariri Institute are pleased to host a symposium on New Developments in Imaging Naturalistic, Social, and Freely-Moving Behaviors. This event will bring together leading researchers who are pioneering advanced imaging approaches to study brain activity in ecologically valid contexts. Speakers will present cutting-edge techniques that enable high-resolution neural recordings during natural behavior, including freely-moving animal models, immersive virtual reality environments, and complex social interactions. The symposium aims to highlight how these tools are reshaping our understanding of the neural underpinnings of cognition and behavior in realistic settings.

Key areas of focus will include learning and decision making, motor control and spatial navigation, and the neural basis of social behavior. Presentations will explore how recent innovations in optical imaging, neural recording, and behavioral tracking are being combined to capture the dynamics of brain activity during active engagement with the environment. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, the symposium seeks to accelerate progress in understanding the brain in action and to inspire new collaborations across neuroscience, engineering, and computational modeling. This event will serve as a platform for sharing ideas, building community, and advancing the frontier of neurophotonics in the study of natural behavior.