Manipulating Brain Activity

A technique that allows for the precise control of genetically targeted neurons using light. Genes encoding light-sensitive ion channels (e.g., channelrhodopsin) are introduced into specific neurons, enabling researchers to turn the neurons on or off with millisecond accuracy using fiber optics.

A technique that uses designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADD) to remotely control the activity of specific cells. Genetically engineered receptors are introduced into target neurons, and they are then activated only by an inert synthetic ligand (e.g., CNO), allowing for precise, non-invasive, and temporally controlled modulation of neural circuits.

A non-invasive technique that uses a rapidly changing magnetic field produced by a coil placed over the scalp to induce an electrical current in a small, localized region of the underlying cortex. TMS can temporarily enhance or disrupt local neural activity, allowing researchers to study the causal role of specific brain regions in behavior and cognition (creating a "virtual lesion").