Join us as we explore neural optogenetics, examining the latest developments and their implications for neuroscience and neurological medicine. This episode delves into cutting-edge research, therapeutic advances, and practical applications that are revolutionizing our understanding of brain function.

Journey into the revolutionary field of neural optogenetics with "Neural Optogenetics: Light-Controlled Brain Function," where we explore how scientists are using light to control neural activity with unprecedented precision. This episode examines transformative technology that's revolutionizing neuroscience research and offering new therapeutic possibilities for neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Neural optogenetics combines genetics and optics to achieve precise control over specific neurons in living tissue. By introducing light-sensitive proteins (opsins) into targeted neurons, researchers can turn neural activity on or off with millisecond precision using specific wavelengths of light. This revolutionary approach provides unprecedented spatiotemporal control over brain circuits.

What makes optogenetics particularly significant is its potential to bridge basic neuroscience research and clinical applications. In the laboratory, optogenetics has revealed fundamental principles of neural circuit function, while clinically, early trials are exploring treatments for blindness, depression, and epilepsy.

Join our hosts Antoni, Sarah, and Josh as they illuminate the discovery and engineering of light-sensitive proteins, how channelrhodopsin and halorhodopsin enable precise neural control, and applications in studying neural circuits underlying memory, emotion, and behavior.

References

Primary References


Boyden, E. S., Zhang, F., Bamberg, E., et al. (2005). "Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity." Nature Neuroscience, 8(9), 1263-1268.
Zhang, F., Wang, L. P., Brauner, M., et al. (2007). "Multimodal fast optical interrogation of neural circuitry." Nature, 446(7136), 633-639.
Deisseroth, K. (2011). "Optogenetics." Nature Methods, 8(1), 26-29.


Foundational Papers


Nagel, G., Szellas, T., Huhn, W., et al. (2003). "Channelrhodopsin-2, a directly light-gated cation-selective membrane channel." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 100(24), 13940-13945.
Zhang, F., Vierock, J., Yizhar, O., et al. (2011). "The microbial opsin family of optogenetic tools." Cell, 147(7), 1446-1457.
Adamantidis, A. R., Zhang, F., Aravanis, A. M., et al. (2007). "Neural substrates of awakening probed with optogenetic control of hypocretin neurons." Nature, 450(7168), 420-424.


Recent Research


Sahel, J. A., Boulanger-Scemama, E., Pagot, C., et al. (2021). "Partial recovery of visual function in a blind patient after optogenetic therapy." Nature Medicine, 27(7), 1223-1229.
Gunaydin, L. A., Grosenick, L., Finkelstein, J. C., et al. (2014). "Natural neural projection dynamics underlying social behavior." Cell, 157(7), 1535-1551.
Chen, S., Weitemier, A. Z., Zeng, X., et al. (2018). "Near-infrared deep brain stimulation via upconversion nanoparticle–mediated optogenetics." Science, 359(6376), 679-684.


Additional Context

This research covers the revolutionary development of optogenetic tools, from the discovery of light-sensitive microbial proteins to their application in controlling neural circuits and treating neurological disorders with unprecedented precision.

Optogenetics #Neuroscience #NeuralEngineering #BrainResearch #Neurotechnology #NeuroscienceResearch #BrainStimulation #NeurologicalDisorders #PsychiatricTreatment #NeuralCircuits #BrainFunction #NeuralControl #LightTherapy #BiomedicalEngineering #NeuralInterfaces

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