Concepts

Optogenetic Research

The seminal work by Karl Deisseroth and colleagues established a strategy for using light (opto-) to directly regulate the activation of genetically modified (-genetics) neurons (Boyden et al., Nature Neuroscience 2005). By incorporating genes from photosensitive algae, neurons become sensitive to different wavelengths for either excitation or inhibition. Scientists now use this technology to draw more direct causal links between the activity of neuronal populations and corresponding animal behavior.