Engineering Neurons: Light, Chemicals, Sound

This lecture explores the cutting-edge techniques of optogenetics, chemogenetics, and sonogenetics to engineer neural activity. It covers the fundamentals of neural activity, including action potentials, synaptic transmission, and signal propagation. The lecture delves into the detailed mechanisms of optogenetics, where light is used to control neurons, chemogenetics, which involves designer receptors activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), and the emerging field of sonogenetics, which uses sound waves for neuromodulation. Various tools, such as opsins, DREADDs, and mediators for sonogenetics, are discussed, along with their applications and implications in neuroscience.