Collaborative Research: Nanofabricated multisite opto-electrical probes for optogenetic stimulation and neuronal recording applications

智力优势：该提案将通过创新使用纳米制造技术和设备组装方案来推进工程和神经科学，通过新启动的研究线，在这些研究线中，非常小的细胞群（~1到10）可以被光化学操纵和电记录。在这里提出的概念验证研究中，探针将被纳入co-PI？在奖赏处理通路中重要的脑区伏隔核进行强化学习的神经机制的行为实验。在联想奖励学习任务中，光遗传学标记的神经元将被激活或沉默，并通过光电极记录，从而允许它们的活动在特定的学习时期受到干扰。这些实验将有助于演示探针的操作，并提供关于食欲刺激的信息如何在这个大脑区域动态编码的新见解。具有无与伦比的光子和电子能力的神经探针的发展将对如何将光遗传学和电生理学纳入神经科学实验产生广泛的影响。更广泛的影响：具有无与伦比的光子和电子能力的神经探针的发展将对如何将光遗传学和电生理学纳入神经科学实验产生广泛的影响。如果这里提出的开发策略成功，pi将寻求额外的资金机会，在商业设备代工厂大规模生产这些工具。该合作项目将为培养研究生和博士后提供一个高度跨学科的环境。此外，两家pi将利用现有的大学项目，让高中生和本科生参与研究工作。作为这项工作的直接结果，研究人员还计划了课程改进，并计划了k-12外展计划。还有许多额外的教育组成部分，包括不同机构之间的合作，神经科学社区设备传播计划，k-12教育和外展，并将高中生纳入暑期实验室项目，本科生培训和研究机会，研究生培训，课程开发，以及跨学科的交流。

1263987/1263785Li/MasmanidisIntellectual Merit:This proposal will advance both engineering, through innovative use of nanofabrication techniques and device assembly schemes, and neuroscience, through newly enabled lines of research in which very small groups of cells (~1 to 10) can be optogenetically manipulated and electrically recorded. In the proof-of-concept study proposed here, the probes will be incorporated into the co-PI?s behavioral experiments on the neural mechanisms of reinforcement learning in the nucleus accumbens, an important brain area in the reward processing pathway. Optogenetically tagged neurons will be activated or silenced and recorded with the optoelectrodes during an associative reward learning task, allowing their activity to be perturbed at specific epochs of learning. These experiments will help both demonstrate the operation of the probes, and provide new insight into how information about appetitive stimuli is dynamically encoded in this brain area. The development of neural probes with unsurpassed photonic and electronic capabilities will have broad impact on how optogenetics and electrophysiology are incorporated into neuroscience experiments.Broader impacts: The development of neural probes with unsurpassed photonic and electronic capabilities will have broad impact on how optogenetics and electrophysiology are incorporated into neuroscience experiments. If the development strategy proposed here is successful, the PIs will seek additional funding opportunities to mass-produce these tools at commercial device foundries. This collaborative project will provide a highly interdisciplinary environment for training of graduate students and a postdoctoral scholar. Additionally, the two PIs will use existing university programs to involve high school and undergraduate students in the research effort.The investigators also plan curriculum enhancement as a direc result of this work, and have a planned program of k-12 outreach there are numerous additional educational components, including collaboration between different institutions,a plan for device dissemination in the neuroscience community, K-12 education and outreach and inclusion of high school students in summer lab projects,undergraduate training and research opportunities, graduate training, curriculum development, and interdisciplinary exchange.