Neocortex in the Spotlight: Concepts, Questions, and Methods.- Principles and Fundamentals of Optical Imaging.- Optical Properties of Neural Tissue.- Fluorescent Indicators for Functional Optical Imaging.- Optogenetic Tools for Control of Neural Activity.- In Vivo Dendritic Mapping of Sensory Inputs in Cortical Neurons.- In Vivo Population Imaging of Dendritic Integration in Neocortex.- Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging of Cortical Dynamics.- Two-Photon Imaging of Neuronal Network Dynamics in Neocortex.- Chronic Two-Photon Imaging of Neural Activity in the Anesthetized and Awake Behaving Rodent.- Neocortical Circuit Interrogation with Optogenetics.- Imaging of Astrocytic Activity in Living Rodents.- Imaging Morphology and Function of Cortical Microglia.- Functional Imaging of Cerebral Oxygenation with Intrinsic Optical Contrast and Phosphorescent Probes.- Laser Speckle Imaging of Cerebral Blood Flow.- Two-Photon Microscopy to Measure Blood Flow and Concurrent Brain Cell Activity.