title: Optogenetics in a transparent animal: circuit function in the larval zebrafish.
abstract: Optogenetic tools can be used to manipulate neuronal activity in a reversible and specific manner. In recent years, such methods have been applied to uncover causal relationships between activity in specified neuronal circuits and behavior in the larval zebrafish. In this small, transparent, genetic model organism, noninvasive manipulation and monitoring of neuronal activity with light is possible throughout the nervous system. Here we review recent work in which these new tools have been applied to zebrafish, and discuss some of the existing challenges of these approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Portugues
authors.forename: Kristen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Severi
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wyart
authors.forename: Misha B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ahrens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva; D062308:Optogenetics / Q000379:methods*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000502:physiology*