Deep brain optogenetics without intracranial surgery.

Chen, Ritchie; Gore, Felicity; Nguyen, Quynh-Anh; Ramakrishnan, Charu; Patel, Sneha; Kim, Soo Hyun; Raffiee, Misha; Kim, Yoon Seok et al. · Nat Biotechnol · 2021

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Achieving temporally precise, noninvasive control over specific neural cell types in the deep brain would advance the study of nervous system function. Here we use the potent channelrhodopsin ChRmine to achieve transcranial photoactivation of defined neural circuits, including midbrain and brainstem structures, at unprecedented depths of up to 7 mm with millisecond precision. Using systemic viral delivery of ChRmine, we demonstrate behavioral modulation without surgery, enabling implant-free deep brain optogenetics.

Medical subject headings