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Optogenetics

Optogenetics is a technology that allows targeted, fast control of precisely defined events in biological systems as complex as freely moving mammals. By delivering optical control at the speed (millisecond-scale) and with the precision (cell type–specific) required for biological processing, optogenetic approaches have opened new landscapes for the study of biology, both in health and disease.

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Figure 1: Graphical illustration of 'optogenetics' emerging in the scientific literature.
Figure 2: Principle of optogenetics in neuroscience.

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Correspondence to Karl Deisseroth.

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Deisseroth, K. Optogenetics. Nat Methods 8, 26–29 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmeth.f.324

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