Download 26-5 Devices for Studying the Brain

Devices for Studying the Brain: Optogenetics is a technology used to understand the working principles of the brain. It involves
studying neurons by stimulating their constituent proteins with light. The neural cells aren’t damaged, as they can be when electrically
stimulated. Achieving simultaneous stimulation and response measurement in a brain is challenging because a bio-compatible,
integrated platform has been lacking. University of Michigan researchers and partners will discuss how they are addressing this
roadblock with micro-machined optoelectrodes comprising neuron-sized micro-LEDs and electrodes integrated on thin silicon probes
for high spatial and temporal accuracy. Upon insertion, the optoelectrodes have captured the neuronal activities in targeted areas of the
brain of a freely behaving mouse.
Above are photomicrographs of the fabricated μLED optoelectrode. The four shanks of an optoelectrode with its tips are shown. The
insets show (left) a SEM view of a tip and (right) a view of a tip with two of the LEDs illuminating.
(Paper #26.5, “GaN-on-Si μLED Optoelectrodes for High-Spatiotemporal-Accuracy Optogenetics in Freely Behaving Animals, “ K. Kim et al, University of
Michigan/New York University/Tel Aviv University)