title: Optogenetic investigation of neural circuits in vivo.
abstract: The recent development of light-activated optogenetic probes allows for the identification and manipulation of specific neural populations and their connections in awake animals with unprecedented spatial and temporal precision. This review describes the use of optogenetic tools to investigate neurons and neural circuits in vivo. We describe the current panel of optogenetic probes, methods of targeting these probes to specific cell types in the nervous system, and strategies of photostimulating cells in awake, behaving animals. Finally, we survey the application of optogenetic tools to studying functional neuroanatomy, behavior and the etiology and treatment of various neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences Program and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA. carterme@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de Lecea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009420:Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000166:cytology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D055355:Opsins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D055355:Opsins