Abstract
In recent years optogenetics has rapidly become an essential technique in neuroscience. Its temporal and spatial specificity, combined with efficacy in manipulating neuronal activity, are especially useful in studying the behavior of awake behaving animals. Conventional optogenetics, however, requires the use of lasers and optic fibers, which can place considerable restrictions on behavior. Here we combined a wirelessly controlled interface and small implantable light-emitting diode (LED) that allows flexible and precise placement of light source to illuminate any brain area. We tested this wireless LED system in vivo, in transgenic mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2 in striatonigral neurons expressing D1-like dopamine receptors. In all mice tested, we were able to elicit movements reliably. The frequency of twitches induced by high power stimulation is proportional to the frequency of stimulation. At lower power, contraversive turning was observed. Moreover, the implanted LED remains effective over 50 days after surgery, demonstrating the long-term stability of the light source. Our results show that the wireless LED system can be used to manipulate neural activity chronically in behaving mice without impeding natural movements.
Highlights
Recent advances in optogenetics have provided a method to selectively manipulate neural activity (Boyden et al, 2005; Zhang et al, 2006, 2007b; Han and Boyden, 2007)
To drive the light-emitting diode (LED) wirelessly, we developed a multi-channel Gaussian frequency-shift keying (GFSK) transceiver printed circuit board (PCB) (Figures 1, 2) that receives radio signals (2.4–2.5 GHz; 250 kbps) from the transceiver located within a Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongle that can be connected to a nearby computer
In recent years, optogenetic techniques utilizing fiber optics have been used extensively to investigate the function of intact neural circuits (Zhang et al, 2007a; Bernstein and Boyden, 2011; Stuber et al, 2011; Rossi et al, 2012, 2013)
Summary
Recent advances in optogenetics have provided a method to selectively manipulate neural activity (Boyden et al, 2005; Zhang et al, 2006, 2007b; Han and Boyden, 2007). It greatly restricts the distance that animals can move from the light source, introducing torque to the cranial implant that can perturb free movement. It limits the number of animals that can interact with one another during stimulation: e.g., two behaving rodents will become tangled if they are both connected to lasers with optic cables
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