Optical magnetic detection of single-neuron action potentials using quantum defects in diamond
Open accessAbstract
Significance: We demonstrate noninvasive detection of action potentials with single-neuron sensitivity, including in whole organisms. Our sensor is composed of quantum defects within a diamond chip, which detect time-varying magnetic fields generated by action potentials. The sensor is biocompatible and can be brought into close proximity to the organism without adverse effect, allowing for long-term observation and superior resolution of neuron magnetic fields. Optical magnetic detection with quantum defects also provides information about action potential propagation that is not easily available with existing methods. The quantum diamond technique requires no labeling or genetic modification, allows submillisecond time resolution, does not bleach, and senses through opaque tissue. With further development, we expect micrometer-scale magnetic imaging of a variety of neuronal phenomena.
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Best reported diamond magnetometers' sensitivity is between 12 and 50 pT/Hz1/2, suitable for experimental recording of magnetic fields from isolated nerve or muscle tissues or invasive close-proximity high-resolution MCG of living rats, but not sufficient to compete with SQUIDs or OPMs for MCG clinical applications.
“Since the best reported diamond magnetometers’ sensitivity is between 12 and 50 pT/Hz1/2, they are suitable for experimental recording of magnetic fields from isolated nerve or muscle neuronal action potentials isolated nerve or muscle tissues (294) or even for invasive, close-proximity, high-resolution MCG of living rats (208), but do not have sufficient sensitivity to compete with SQUIDs or OPMs”
From Clinical magnetocardiography: the unshielded bet—past, present, and future (2023) · cites this paper as [294]
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- Authors
- Barry, J. F., Turner, M. J., Schloss, J. M., Glenn, D. R., Song, Y., Lukin, M. D., Park, H., & Walsworth, R. L.
- Affiliations
- Harvard University (US)
- Boston Children's Hospital (US)
- Broad Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Walsworth, Ronald L.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2016-11-22
- Volume
- 113
- Issue
- 49
- Pages
- 14133-14138
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC5150388
- OpenAlex
- W2266469747
- Cited by
- 637
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 63 · 2025: 79 · 2024: 68 · 2023: 81 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 82 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 57 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 4
- FWCI
- 21.83
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Update notices
- correction (2017-08-07)
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) (Harvard University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DSpace@MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Funders
- Defense Sciences Office, DARPA (HR0011-11-C-0073)
- NSF | MPS | Division of Physics (1504610)
- DOD | Army Research Office (W911NF-15-1-0548)
- National Science Foundation (1122374)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neural Engineering
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Keywords
- neuronal action potentials, magnetic field sensing, nitrogen-vacancy centers, action potential conduction velocity, marine worms
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