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Optogenetics: Applications in psychiatric research
Author(s) -
Shirai Fukutoshi,
HayashiTakagi Akiko
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/pcn.12516
Subject(s) - optogenetics , neuroscience , millisecond , channelrhodopsin , computer science , cognitive science , nanotechnology , biology , psychology , physics , materials science , astronomy
Recently, optogenetic techniques have emerged as a method to optically manipulate molecular and cellular events in target cells both in vitro and in vivo . Optogenetics results from the fruitful combination of optics and genetic engineering, maximizing the advantages of each discipline. These advantages are optical control through the manipulation of wavelength and light intensity on the millisecond timescale, and specific gene expression and gene product trafficking with subcellular precision. This kind of fine‐tuning cannot be achieved using traditional methods. Therefore, optogenetic techniques have brought a revolution to neuroscience. In this review, we provide a concise summary of the history and recent advances of optogenetics, focusing in particular on applications for psychiatric research.