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Introduction
Traditional methods for the functional analysis
of neurons have relied on direct stimulation by tiny electrodes, although the
effectiveness is undermined by the limited spatial and temporal precision with
which individual cells can be selectively targeted. As such, the recent
emergence of optogenetic tools — genetically encoded switches that allow
neurons to be turned on or off with bursts of light — promises to revolutionize
the study of how neurons operate singly and as members of larger networks, and
could ultimately offer new hope for patients suffering from vision impairment
or neurological disorders such as epilepsy or Parkinson’s disease. (Source: http://www.mpg.de/36217/bm06_Optogenetics.pdf)
The use of light in a non-invasive manner to remotely control neuronal cells opens completely new opportunities in neurophysiology (in cultured tissues cells as well as in living animals) with up until now unknown improvements in temporal and even more importantly spatial resolution. This was possible with the discovery of the light activated cation channel Channelrhodopsin 2 together with the light activated chloride pump Halorhodopsin (NphR), i.e.” multimodal control of neurons by light”. The new and very fast growing field of ´Optogenetics´ was established with the perspective of new approaches on basic science and on the gene therapy of neural diseases such as Parkinson disease, neuropsychiatric diseases and malfunctions in vision. (Source: http://www.mpg.de/36227/bm06_Optogenetics-basetext.pdf)
The use of light in a non-invasive manner to remotely control neuronal cells opens completely new opportunities in neurophysiology (in cultured tissues cells as well as in living animals) with up until now unknown improvements in temporal and even more importantly spatial resolution. This was possible with the discovery of the light activated cation channel Channelrhodopsin 2 together with the light activated chloride pump Halorhodopsin (NphR), i.e.” multimodal control of neurons by light”. The new and very fast growing field of ´Optogenetics´ was established with the perspective of new approaches on basic science and on the gene therapy of neural diseases such as Parkinson disease, neuropsychiatric diseases and malfunctions in vision. (Source: http://www.mpg.de/36227/bm06_Optogenetics-basetext.pdf)
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