Optogentics and optrode technology to brain function manupulation

Optogenetics comprises a growing family of related techniques for the optical interrogation and control of excitable cells. Combining genetic targeting with light delivery systems makes it possible to drive or silence subpopulations of neurons and the related behaviours, with a high spatiotemporal precision. Since optical manipulation is fast, selective, and minimally invasive, it provides distinct advantages over traditional electrical means or pharmacological approaches for cell perturbation. Here we showed in anesthetized rat that optogenetic stimulation of nucleus accumbens (NAc) neurons increased neural activation. We labelled a population of neurons activated with channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and later optically stimulated these neurons by using an optrode and recorded spontaneous action potentials from the one neuron.