University College London researchers have developed an innovative way to understand how the brain works by using flashes of light, allowing them to both read and write brain signals. The new technique, described in Nature Methods, combines two cutting-edge technologies for reading and writing electrical activity in the brain. First, genetically encoded activity sensors enable neuroscientists to engineer nerve cells to visibly light up when they are active. Expressing light-sensitive proteins in the same nerve cells then allows these cells to be activated with flashes of light. By combining these two techniques, the team was able to both observe and control brain activity in mice. Pictured: Six neurons arranged in smiley face shape were simultaneously activated with light. The response of those neurons is color coded green, indicating the successful activation of this neuronal pattern of activity. This experiment was performed during the acquisition of experimental data seeking to understand how patterns of activity propagate in the cortex.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Dec 2014 18:50:07 +0000
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