Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Brain Imaging01:14

Brain Imaging

Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans),  magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),  functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Tension TRAAKer: a chemigenetic fluorescent membrane tension reporter.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

An Agonist/Antagonist Photo-Switchable Vitamin D Mimetic Enables Bidirectional Optical Control of VDR.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Intravitreal photoswitch therapy in advanced retinitis pigmentosa: a phase 1 open-label trial.

Nature medicine·2026
Same author

Localized NF-κB Inhibition Reduces Lipid Nanoparticle-Associated Inflammation.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Photocontrolled trimethoprim PROTACs targeting the eDHFR protein tag.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

A prodrug targeting CIM6P/IGF2R enhances memory in healthy mice and reverses deficits in an Angelman syndrome mouse model.

Translational psychiatry·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons
07:40

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons

Published on: November 15, 2011

New photochemical tools for controlling neuronal activity.

Richard H Kramer1, Doris L Fortin, Dirk Trauner

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States. rhkramer@berkeley.edu

Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|October 16, 2009
PubMed
Summary

New photochemical tools, including caged neurotransmitters and photosensitive proteins, offer precise, light-based control over neuronal activity. These innovations are revolutionizing neurobiology research by enabling noninvasive exploration of neural function.

More Related Videos

Optical Control of a Neuronal Protein Using a Genetically Encoded Unnatural Amino Acid in Neurons
08:20

Optical Control of a Neuronal Protein Using a Genetically Encoded Unnatural Amino Acid in Neurons

Published on: March 28, 2016

Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
10:29

Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

Published on: October 8, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons
07:40

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons

Published on: November 15, 2011

Optical Control of a Neuronal Protein Using a Genetically Encoded Unnatural Amino Acid in Neurons
08:20

Optical Control of a Neuronal Protein Using a Genetically Encoded Unnatural Amino Acid in Neurons

Published on: March 28, 2016

Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons
10:29

Multi-photon Intracellular Sodium Imaging Combined with UV-mediated Focal Uncaging of Glutamate in CA1 Pyramidal Neurons

Published on: October 8, 2014

Area of Science:

  • Neurobiology
  • Optogenetics
  • Photochemistry

Background:

  • Electrophysiological techniques have traditionally dominated neuronal activity measurement and manipulation.
  • Recent advancements in photochemical tools are emerging as powerful alternatives.
  • These tools leverage light to control neural processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review three main types of photochemical tools for neuronal control.
  • To highlight their mechanisms and applications in neurobiology.
  • To emphasize their role in advancing neural exploration.

Main Methods:

  • Caged neurotransmitters (e.g., caged glutamate) for localized receptor activation.
  • Exogenous expression of natural photosensitive proteins (e.g., channelrhodopsin-2, halorhodopsin) for action potential control.
  • Synthetic small molecule photoswitches to confer light-sensitivity to native or expressed proteins.

Main Results:

  • Photochemical tools enable precise, localized, and noninvasive control of neuronal activity.
  • These methods allow for photocontrol of action potential firing and synaptic events.
  • Ongoing rapid development in molecular biology and synthetic chemistry enhances tool capabilities.

Conclusions:

  • Photochemical tools represent a paradigm shift in neurobiology, complementing and challenging electrophysiology.
  • They offer versatile strategies for precise neural circuit interrogation.
  • The continued innovation in this field promises deeper insights into neural function.