Optogenetics: Tools for Controlling Brain Cells with Light
Name
s2529732519400133.pdf
Description
Published version
Size
998.51 KB
Format
Unknown
Checksum (MD5)
8813538da97e0b458e0bc34d4cff61a0
Author(s)
Boyden, Edward
Date Issued
2019
Journal
Molecular Frontiers Journal
Publisher
World Scientific Pub Co Pte Lt
Version
Final published version
Abstract
The brain is made out of an incredible diversity of cells called neurons, which have different shapes, are made of different molecules, and that change in different ways in diseases. In optogenetics, microbial opsins, natural proteins that convert light into electrical signals, are genetically expressed in neurons. Then, light pulses can be used to turn neurons on, revealing how they trigger behaviors, disease states, or therapeutic effects, or to turn neurons off, revealing what functions or dysfunctions they are necessary for.
MIT Department
McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Media Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Neurobiological Engineering
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Biological Engineering
Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT
Terms of Use
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1142/S2529732519400133