Manipulating brain circuits using optogentic equipment to examine memory in mice

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Major scientific breakthroughs often stem from key technological advances. For example, the development of gene targeting techniques revolutionized biology by providing a set of tools that can be used to manipulate gene function within organisms. Recently, optogenetic techniques have been developed that provide a set of tools that can be used to manipulate neural function in behaving organisms with exquisite spatial and temporal control. This application is for the purchase of optogenetic equipment that will allow the joint applicants (Drs. Josselyn and Frankland) to modulate the activity of genetically distinct groups of neurons with pulses of light in behaving animals. This sort of technology is becoming widely used in our (and many other) research fields. Indeed, we have recently collaborated with Dr. Shoayu Ge at Stonybrook who has introduced us to this exciting optogenetic technology. We currently have a paper under review at Neuron detailing this experiment (Gu et al., under review). Both Dr. Josselyn and Dr. Frankland have exciting studies that require this equipment. However, we do not, at present, have access to this exciting technology in our own labs. The lack of the equipment, therefore, puts us at a disadvantage in a field in which this technology is becoming almost standard. With this equipment, we will be able to apply for additional operating funds and to conduct sophisticated important experiments that will give insights into how the brain encodes information.