Controlling behavior using light to excite and silence neuronal activity

Abstract

The number of reports involving the new tools of optogenetics is increasing exponentially to yield detailed insights into anatomical, physiological, and pathological issues. These tools help us to tackle major questions regarding the function of neural circuits in the mammalian brain, which possesses uncountable combinations of neurons. Moreover, rapid progress in diverse collaborations between optogenetics and optical imaging technologies will allow us to analyze, simultaneously, the activities of multiple neurons and glial cells. As well as activity analysis, optogenetics is developing rapidly to support the analysis of stimulation in neuronal function. We can now stimulate multiple cell types independently using selective molecular tools, such as promoters and gene delivery systems. In addition, optical properties also help us to discriminate among subpopulations of cells in neuronal networks. The use of light to study the brain has proved to be a remarkably fruitful strategy, and indeed optogenetics has given us a green light for the future.