Optical Control of Neural Dynamics Using LED Array

Optical stimulation of neural cells using optogenetic technique has become a hot research topic in neuroscience applications. One of the prominent challenges of applying the optogenetic technique is photostimulation tools that can provide stimulation patterns with high light intensity and desired temporal resolution. Hence, as the applications of this technique grow, there is a need for simple and low-cost hardware that can create stimulation patterns and control the light delivery onto target cells. In this paper, a photostimulation tool based on LED arrays for optical stimulation of Channelrhodopsin-expressing neurons is developed. The proposed photostimulator also benefit from a control panel that allows users to easily tune the stimulation parameters and stimulation patterns effectively. An in-vitro test platform has been used to validate the functionality of the designed optogenetic stimulation tool. The control panel of the designed stimulator allows researchers to manipulate stimulation patterns, adjust stimulation parameters and hence, adopt this test platform for various applications.