Complete optical neurophysiology: toward optical stimulation and recording of neural tissue.
Direct optical methods to stimulate and record neural activity provide artifact-free, noninvasive, and noncontact neurophysiological procedures. For stimulation, focused mid-infrared light alters membrane potential and activates individual neural processes. Simultaneous intrinsic scattered light parameters, including birefringence changes, can record neural activity with signals similar to potentiometric dyes. The simultaneous combination of optical stimulation and optical recording techniques provide the potential for powerful tools that may someday remove the need for invasive wires during electrophysiological recordings.
Wininger
Fred A
FA
Department of Veterinary and Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Physiology, Washington State University, 205 Wegner Hall, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
Schei
Jennifer L
JL
Rector
David M
DM