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Controlling neural circuits with light

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Two light-sensitive proteins from unicellular organisms have been harnessed to rapidly activate or silence neurons. This optical remote control allows precise, millisecond control of neural circuits.

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Figure 1: Light activation of the membrane proteins ChR2 and NpHR.
Figure 2: Remote control of designer neurons1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Michael Häusser and Spencer L. Smith are at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Physiology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK. m.hausser@ucl.ac.uk,

    Michael Häusser & Spencer L. Smith

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  1. Michael Häusser
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  2. Spencer L. Smith
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Häusser, M., Smith, S. Controlling neural circuits with light. Nature 446, 617–619 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/446617a

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