Optogenetic Manipulations Create Perception Without Sensory Input

Advanced single-cell optogenetic tools have enabled researchers to induce a learned behavior in mice without the associated visual cue.

ruth williams
| 3 min read

Mice who have learned to lick a waterspout in response to a visual signal can perform the action without seeing such a cue if the neurons activated by the signal are instead stimulated with light, according to a paper in Science today (July 18). Similar results were reported in a recent Cell paper last week (July 11). The approach taken in the papers could help researchers tackle questions of how perception is encoded in the brain, scientists say.

“[The approach] is a significant step forward in our ability to manipulate the activity of neurons in a specific manner,” says Shaul Hestrin, a behavioral neuroscientist at Stanford University who was not involved with either study, “and the results are very promising.”

The way the brain identifies and interprets external stimuli and then executes appropriate behaviors remains largely a black box. It is known, for example, that following certain visual stimuli, distinct ...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

The Scientist Logo
Receive full access to more than 35 years of archives, as well as TS Digest, digital editions of The Scientist, feature stories, and much more!
Already a member? Login Here

Keywords

Meet the Author

  • ruth williams

    Ruth Williams

    Ruth is a freelance journalist.
Share
3D illustration of a gold lipid nanoparticle with pink nucleic acid inside of it. Purple and teal spikes stick out from the lipid bilayer representing polyethylene glycol.
February 2025, Issue 1

A Nanoparticle Delivery System for Gene Therapy

A reimagined lipid vehicle for nucleic acids could overcome the limitations of current vectors.

View this Issue
Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

Enhancing Therapeutic Antibody Discovery with Cross-Platform Workflows

sartorius logo
Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Considerations for Cell-Based Assays in Immuno-Oncology Research

Lonza
An illustration of animal and tree silhouettes.

From Water Bears to Grizzly Bears: Unusual Animal Models

Taconic Biosciences
Sex Differences in Neurological Research

Sex Differences in Neurological Research

bit.bio logo

Products

Photo of a researcher overseeing large scale production processes in a laboratory.

Scaling Lentiviral Vector Manufacturing for Optimal Productivity

Thermo Fisher Logo
An illustration of an mRNA molecule in front of a multicolored background.

Generating High-Quality mRNA for In Vivo Delivery with lipid nanoparticles

Thermo Fisher Logo
Tecan Logo

Tecan introduces Veya: bringing digital, scalable automation to labs worldwide

Explore a Concise Guide to Optimizing Viral Transduction

A Visual Guide to Lentiviral Gene Delivery

Takara Bio