Strategies for optical control and simultaneous electrical readout of extended cortical circuits.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:To dissect the intricate workings of neural circuits, it is essential to gain precise control over subsets of neurons while retaining the ability to monitor larger-scale circuit dynamics. This requires the ability to both evoke and record neural activity simultaneously with high spatial and temporal resolution. NEW METHOD:In this paper we present approaches that address this need by combining micro-electrocorticography (?ECoG) with optogenetics in ways that avoid photovoltaic artifacts. RESULTS:We demonstrate that variations of this approach are broadly applicable across three commonly studied mammalian species - mouse, rat, and macaque monkey - and that the recorded ?ECoG signal shows complex spectral and spatio-temporal patterns in response to optical stimulation. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS:While optogenetics provides the ability to excite or inhibit neural subpopulations in a targeted fashion, large-scale recording of resulting neural activity remains challenging. Recent advances in optical physiology, such as genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators, are promising but currently do not allow simultaneous recordings from extended cortical areas due to limitations in optical imaging hardware. CONCLUSIONS:We demonstrate techniques for the large-scale simultaneous interrogation of cortical circuits in three commonly used mammalian species.

SUBMITTER: Ledochowitsch P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6284522 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature