Optogenetic Brain Interfaces

The brain is a large network of interconnected neurons where each cell functions as a nonlinear processing element. Unraveling the mysteries of information processing in the complex networks of the brain requires versatile neurostimulation and imaging techniques. Optogenetics is a new stimulation me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE reviews in biomedical engineering 2014, Vol.7, p.3-30
Main Authors: Pashaie, Ramin, Anikeeva, Polina, Jin Hyung Lee, Prakash, Rohit, Yizhar, Ofer, Prigge, Matthias, Chander, Divya, Richner, Thomas J., Williams, Justin
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biomedical Research
Biomembranes
Brain
Brain - physiology
Brain interface
Brian modeling
Caenorhabditis elegans
Diseases
Electroencephalography
Genetics
Humans
Light
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
micro-ECoG
Microtechnology
Nervous System Diseases
Neurons
Neurons - physiology
Neurophysiology
NMR
Nuclear magnetic resonance
optogenetic fMRI
Optogenetics
optrode
Photoconductivity
Photonic integrated circuits
Proteins
Rats
two-photon neurostimulation
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Summary:The brain is a large network of interconnected neurons where each cell functions as a nonlinear processing element. Unraveling the mysteries of information processing in the complex networks of the brain requires versatile neurostimulation and imaging techniques. Optogenetics is a new stimulation method which allows the activity of neurons to be modulated by light. For this purpose, the cell-types of interest are genetically targeted to produce light-sensitive proteins. Once these proteins are expressed, neural activity can be controlled by exposing the cells to light of appropriate wavelengths. Optogenetics provides a unique combination of features, including multimodal control over neural function and genetic targeting of specific cell-types. Together, these versatile features combine to a powerful experimental approach, suitable for the study of the circuitry of psychiatric and neurological disorders. The advent of optogenetics was followed by extensive research aimed to produce new lines of light-sensitive proteins and to develop new technologies: for example, to control the distribution of light inside the brain tissue or to combine optogenetics with other modalities including electrophysiology, electrocorticography, nonlinear microscopy, and functional magnetic resonance imaging. In this paper, the authors review some of the recent advances in the field of optogenetics and related technologies and provide their vision for the future of the field.
ISSN:1937-3333
1941-1189
DOI:10.1109/RBME.2013.2294796