Patterned photostimulation via visible-wavelength photonic probes for deep brain optogenetics.

ABSTRACT: Optogenetic methods developed over the past decade enable unprecedented optical activation and silencing of specific neuronal cell types. However, light scattering in neural tissue precludes illuminating areas deep within the brain via free-space optics; this has impeded employing optogenetics universally. Here, we report an approach surmounting this significant limitation. We realize implantable, ultranarrow, silicon-based photonic probes enabling the delivery of complex illumination patterns deep within brain tissue. Our approach combines methods from integrated nanophotonics and microelectromechanical systems, to yield photonic probes that are robust, scalable, and readily producible en masse. Their minute cross sections minimize tissue displacement upon probe implantation. We fu

SUBMITTER: Segev E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5136672 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature