title: Optogenetic neuromodulation: new tools for monitoring and breaking neural circuits.
abstract: Optogenetics is the combination of optical tools to monitor (i.e. "reporters") or interfere (i.e. "actuators") with neural activity, and genetic techniques to restrain the expression of these reporters and actuators in the neuronal populations of interest. Such combination of optical and genetic tools, together with the emergence of new animal models such as the zebrafish larva, has proven extremely valuable is dissecting neural circuits. Optogenetics provide a new framework to address issues that are fundamentally dynamic processes, such as sensorimotor integration in the vertebrate spinal cord. By shifting from spatially targeted electrical stimulation to genetically targeted optical stimulation, optogenetic also opens new avenues for innovative neurorehabilitative strategies, in particular after spinal cord injury.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR S1127, Service de neurochirurgie, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpétrière, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 75013 Paris, France. Electronic address: stevenknafo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knafo
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1127, CNRS UMR S1127, Service de neurochirurgie, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Épinière (ICM), Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpétrière, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), 75013 Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wyart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D062308:Optogenetics; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015027:Zebrafish
keywords: Neuromodulation; Optogenetics; Sensorimotor integration; Zebrafish