Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Glial Cells

Glial Cells

Vision

Vision

Vision is the result of light being detected and transduced into neural signals by the retina of the eye. This information is then further analyzed and interpreted by the brain. First, light enters the front of the eye and is focused by the cornea and lens onto the retina—a thin sheet of neural tissue lining the back of the eye. Because of refraction through the convex lens of the eye, images are projected onto the retina upside-down and reversed.

Functions of the Nervous System

Functions of the Nervous System

The nervous system is responsible for coordinating and regulating the body's functions. It functions through three main processes: sensory, integrative, and motor processes. Sensory function involves the detection and transmission of information about internal and external stimuli from sensory receptors to the CNS. The CNS processes this information through an integrative function, where it interprets and makes decisions based on the incoming sensory information. Finally, the motor function...

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...

Visual System

Visual System

Light enters the eye through the cornea, a transparent, dome-shaped surface covering the surface of the eyeball that helps to direct and focus incoming light. This light is then channeled toward the pupil, an adjustable opening whose size is controlled by the iris. The iris, a pigmented muscle, regulates the amount of light entering the eye by contracting or dilating the pupil, thereby ensuring optimal light levels for clear vision.
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Biomechanical 3D tumor models on a micro-milled high-throughput force sensor array.

Biofabrication·2026

Same author

High-speed in situ tomographic imaging at lab scale.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Self-modifying percolation governs detachment in soft suction wet adhesion.

Science advances·2026

Same author

Optogenetic neuromuscular actuation of a miniature electronic biohybrid robot.

Science robotics·2025

Same author

A forward-engineered, muscle-driven soft robotic swimmer.

Science advances·2025

Same author

Ethics and responsibility in biohybrid robotics research.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons

Published on: November 15, 2011

Optogenetic neural spheroids excite primary neural network.

Saeedur Rahman¹, Md Saddam Hossain Joy¹, M Taher A Saif¹

¹Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, United States of America.

Journal of Neural Engineering

|June 9, 2025

Summary

Researchers developed a new platform to stimulate non-optogenetic neurons using optogenetic neural spheroids. This simplifies neural network studies by eliminating the need for direct neuron transfection.

Keywords:

biological neural network microelectrode array neural network dynamics neural network modulation optogenetic excitation

More Related Videos

An Optogenetic Approach for Assessing Formation of Neuronal Connections in a Co-culture System

An Optogenetic Approach for Assessing Formation of Neuronal Connections in a Co-culture System

Published on: February 17, 2015

Synaptic Microcircuit Modeling with 3D Cocultures of Astrocytes and Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Synaptic Microcircuit Modeling with 3D Cocultures of Astrocytes and Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: August 16, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons

Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons

Published on: November 15, 2011

An Optogenetic Approach for Assessing Formation of Neuronal Connections in a Co-culture System

An Optogenetic Approach for Assessing Formation of Neuronal Connections in a Co-culture System

Published on: February 17, 2015

Synaptic Microcircuit Modeling with 3D Cocultures of Astrocytes and Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Synaptic Microcircuit Modeling with 3D Cocultures of Astrocytes and Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: August 16, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Biotechnology

Background:

Optical stimulation of in vitro neurons typically requires transfection with light-gated ion channels, adding complexity.
Simplifying this process is crucial for advancing studies on biological neural networks.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a simplified method for stimulating non-optogenetic neural networks.
To enable on-demand optical stimulation of neural preparations without direct transfection.

Main Methods:

Constructed a platform for culturing embryonic stem cell-derived optogenetic neural spheroids separately.
Seeded these spheroids onto primary non-optogenetic neuron cultures.

Main Results:

Demonstrated successful stimulation of the primary neural network through the optogenetic spheroids.
Enabled investigations into network response dynamics and pharmacological perturbations.

Conclusions:

The developed platform offers an on-demand method for stimulating neural preparations.
This approach simplifies experimental setups for studying neural networks.