Optogenetic magnetic resonance imaging
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsKarl Deisseroth, Jin Hyung Lee
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are systems and methods involving the use of magnetic resonance imaging and optogenetic neural stimulation. Aspects of the disclosure include modifying a target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express light-responsive molecules. Using a light pulse, the light-responsive molecules in the target neural cell population are stimulated. Multiple regions of the brain are scanned via magnetic resonance imaging. The scans allow for observation of a neural reaction in response to the stimulation in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain.
Claims20
A system for carrying out functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in an individual, the system comprising:
- a) an apparatus for delivering a nucleic acid comprising:
- i) a nucleotide sequence encoding a first light-responsive opsin polypeptide to a first target neural cell population in a first region of a brain of the individual to produce a first modified target cell population in the first region of the brain, and
- ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding a second light-responsive opsin polypeptide to a second target neural cell population in a second region of a brain of the individual to produce a second modified target cell population in the second region of the brain;
- b) a light source for delivering:
- i) a first light pulse to the second region of the brain, thereby stimulating the second region of the brain, and
- ii) a second light pulse to the first region of the brain, thereby stimulating the first region of the brain;
- and
- c) a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) device that is configured to scan multiple regions of the brain to:
- i) allow for observation of a first neural reaction in response to the first light pulse in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain and, in response, determine whether neural projections in the second region of the brain are connected to at least some of the first modified target cell population in the first region of the brain, and
- ii) allow for observation of a second neural reaction in response to the second light pulse in at least one of the multiple regions of the brain and, in response, determine whether neural projections in the first region of the brain are connected to at least some of the second modified target cell population in the second region of the brain.
A method comprising:
- a) modifying a first target neural cell population in a first region of a brain to express a first light-responsive opsin polypeptide;
- b) modifying a second target neural cell population in a second region of the brain to express a second light-responsive opsin polypeptide, wherein the first target neural cell population and the second neural cell population are modified using an apparatus for delivering a nucleic acid comprising:
- i) a nucleotide sequence encoding the first light-responsive opsin polypeptide, and
- ii) a nucleotide sequence encoding the second light-responsive opsin polypeptide;
- c) stimulating, using a light source, the first region of the brain and the second region of the brain, wherein the light source is configured to deliver:
- i) a first light pulse to the second region of the brain, thereby stimulating the second region of the brain, and
- ii) a second light pulse to the first region of the brain, thereby stimulating the first region of the brain;
- and
- d) scanning multiple regions of the brain using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) device that is configured to:
- i) observe a first neural reaction in response to stimulation with the first light pulse in the second region of the brain and, in response, determine whether neural projections in the second region of the brain are connected to at least some of the first modified target cell population in the first region of the brain, and
- ii) observe a second neural reaction in response to stimulation with the second light pulse in the first region of the brain and, in response, determine whether neural projections in the first region of the brain are connected to at least some of the second modified target cell population in the second region of the brain.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.