Register for free to
view the full innovation profile.
Advantages include that it is less expensive than alternative techniques and the spatial resolution is improved does not quickly degrade with the number of targeted depth levels.
About
Description Several techniques are available to trigger neural activity in brain tissue on demand which are needed to study how the brain exchanges and processes information, which is useful in research and treatment applications. The most promising solutions are all optical. Brain cells are modified with bio-compatible engineered proteins making ion-specific channels located at the neurons' cell membrane photosensitive. At this point, external triggering of action-potentials with light becomes possible. What is needed are instruments and methods that provide specificity, improve spatial and temporal resolution, are non-invasive and bio-compatible, provide high speed and low delay, have large operating volumes. UC Berkeley researchers have developed a new system and methods that meet the above qualities. This new technology enables all-optical activation of individual neurons in live brain tissue and can narrowly concentrate light on individual neurons anywhere within a large 3D volume. The invention enables precise triggering of action-potentials with single neuron spatial resolution in the entire volume of interest, offering a significant improvement over existing technology. The technology can be used as an add-on system in the optical path in a commercial microscope.