Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 18: Posters: Statistical Physics in Biological Systems
BP 18.37: Poster
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 17:30–19:30, Poster A
Virtual Networks of In Vitro Neurons by Patterned Photostimulation — •Kai Bröking1,3,6, Ahmed ElHady1,2,5,6, Ragnar Fleischmann1, Theo Geisel1,3,5,6, Walter Stühmer2,5,6, Fred Wolf1,3,5,6, and Gert Rapp4 — 1MPI für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation, Göttingen — 2MPI für experimentelle Medizin, Göttingen — 3Fakultät für Physik, Georg-August-Univ. Göttingen — 4Rapp OptoElectronic GmbH, Hamburg/Wedel — 5Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen — 6Bernstein Focus for Neurotechnology. Göttingen
Transfecting neurons with light-gated ion channels and -pumps, e.g. Channelrhodopsin2 [1], makes it possible to precisely control their activity noninvasively, by means of photostimulation.
Here, we present an experimental setup for the patterned photostimulation with continuous signals which can be modulated on the millisecond-scale. It allows to artificially link biological neurons into virtual networks of arbitrary topology. The setup consists of an LED-based multi-spot illumination device, a data aquisition and processing unit, and a software system for input-driven stimulus generation. Local neural activity measured from neurons living on a grid of electrodes in a Multi-Electrode Array (MEA) is used to induce activity elsewhere in the culture by means of generating dynamic photostimulation signals as live feedback. We characterize the performance and limitations of our closed-loop feedback system with respect to latency, long-term stability, and photoelectric articfacts. [1] Boyden, E., et.al., Nat Neurosci 8, 1236-1268(2005), doi:10.1038/nn1525