Two Photon Optogenetic Stimulation

Stimulation of cells, especially neurons is of significant interest both for basic understanding of neuronal circuitry as well as clinical treatment. Existing electrode-based methods of stimulation is invasive and non-specific to single cells. Recently, optical stimulation of targeted neurons expressing light-sensitive proteins (opsins) has surfaced as an emerging and a powerful technique (Optogenetics) in neuroscience. Due to scattering and absorbance of light, optogenetic-based stimulation is also limited to the superficial regions. In order to achieve in-depth stimulation and efficient delivery of light, fiber-optic two photon optogenetics is helpful. The basic mechanism of two photon excitation and its analogous to channelrhodpsin-2 excitation has been discussed in this book. Fiber-optic two photon will allow in-depth localized stimulation for probing and manipulation of neural circuitry with high spatial resolution. Therefore, this book will shed some light on two photon optogenetic stimulation of cells and tissues and may be useful to anyone interested in this field.