TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A research team from National Taiwan University and National Tsing Hua University recently developed an ultra-high speed 4D microscope.

The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) in a Tuesday press release said the microscope employs AI to provide clearer brain images and observe neural activity. It scans thousands of times faster than traditional microscopes, capturing neural activities in real time, the institute said.

NTU physics professor and team member Chu Shi-wei (朱士維) said understanding the brain has been a long-term pursuit for humanity, per CNA. Functional brain imaging in living organisms requires speed to keep up with changes in neuroimaging, making research hard.

NTU pharmacology professor and team member Pan Ming-kai (潘明楷) said this technology allows us to see how brain cells communicate, offering future opportunities to better understand brain diseases.

The NSTC said the technology in the microscope will help develop more advanced and energy-efficient AI computation.