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Friday, October 7, 2011

Integration of Optical Manipulation and Electrophysiological Tools to Modulate and Record Activity in Neural Networks

F. Difato, L. Schibalsky, F. Benfenati & A. Blau

We present an optical system that combines IR (1064 nm) holographic optical tweezers with a sub-nanosecond-pulsed UV (355 nm) laser microdissector for the optical manipulation of single neurons and entire networks both on transparent and non-transparent substrates in vitro. The phase-modulated laser beam can illuminate the sample concurrently or independently from above or below assuring compatibility with different types of microelectrode array and patch-clamp electrophysiology. By combining electrophysiological and optical tools, neural activity in response to localized stimuli or injury can be studied and quantified at sub-cellular, cellular, and network level.

DOI

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