TheoptogeneticsIt is a technique used to ‘turn’ and ‘turn off’ groups of brain cells and is causing a furor in the world of neuroscience. The method combines genetics, optics and virology and will allow studying the role of neurons inthedepression, anxiety, memory, and social behavior.
What is the advantage of ‘lighting up’ a group of neurons? When a neuron or group of neurons are activated they produce an effect: a movement, a physiological process such as breathing, etc. With this technique, groups of brain cells sensitive to light andstudy the actions that are triggered. “Before we did not have methods to see how each type of cell works individually, or how they are coordinated. Now we can directly measure electrical activity in target areas while we optically control cell subtypes”, explained Karl Deisseroth, from the University Stanford, at the congress of the European Federation of Neuroscientific Societies (FENS), held in Barcelona.
The first step in ‘turning on’ a group of neurons is to selecta protein that is sensitive to lightfrom an alga or other organism. Scientists extract the gene that synthesizes this protein and insert it, by means of an inert virus, in the area of the mammal’s brain to be activated. “Using optical and genetic techniques we ensure that only the subtypes of cells in the target area respond to being illuminated,” explained Deisseroth. When scientists emit beams of laser light, they are able to control these cells.
Optogenetics was chosen by the scientific journalNature Methodsas ‘the method of the year’ in 2010 and more and more researchers are using it. Thanks to it, it is expected to get to understand in depth the functions of the brain anddevelop future treatmentsfor mental and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. “If we can ask the brain to show us how it works when it is healthy, and what does not work when it is not, we can better identify what should be changed to make it work better with the use of current forms of treatment “said Deisseroth.
