Using Affordable LED Arrays for Photo-Stimulation of Neurons

The goal of this procedure is to prepare and remotely operate LED arrays to control neural activity in brain slices. This is accomplished using in vitro slices from animals with channel REDSIN two expressing neurons, and using an LED array in conjunction with a microscope to activate those neurons. This video covers how to calibrate an LED and microscope to deliver known intensities of light to the slice chamber.

With this setup, the activation thresholds of channel two expressing neurons can be accurately measured in response to light stimulation through widefield stimulation of channel opsin two expressing neurons. This technique allows temporarily precise optical control of a large neuronal population. The main advantage of this technique over existing optogenetic methods, including those that use lasers or shutter based methods, is that it's very inexpensive and can be easily fitted to an existing patch clamp scope.