A new study in Current Biology shows how optogenetics can modify brain circuits with the same efficacy as the conventional method of electrical conductivity. In attempting to control the visual decision-making brain processes of the primate brain, researchers at Brown stimulated the lateral intraparietal area with optical and electrical stimulation. The LIP is an area of the brain which is affiliated with registering locations of salient objects in the visual world. The researchers report that optogenetic stimulation of neurons demonstrated imperative advantages over electrical stimulation, such as the ability to more easily record the activity of the target neurons. Optogenetics may potentially be utilized in humans for diagnostic and therapeutic benefits.
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