Optogenetic Magnetic Resonance Imaging

摘要

Disclosed herein are systems and methods involving the use of magnetic resonance imaging and optogenetic neural stimulation. Aspects of the disclosure include modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules. Using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population are stimulated. Multiple regions of the brain are scanned via magnetic resonance imaging. The scans allow for observation of a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules; stimulating, using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population; scanning multiple regions of the brain via magnetic resonance imaging to observe a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain and, in response, determine whether neural projections in a second region of the brain are connected to at least some of the modified target cell population in the first region of the brain.