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Information processes of advanced brain functions are known to result from complex interactions of interconnected neurons. Optogenetic technology is expected to contribute to elucidating how neural activity and animal behaviors are linked because it uses light to precisely target specific cells for manipulation without affecting other cells in the brain. Previously optical fibers have been inserted in to the brain tissue of mice to control neurons by optical stimulation, there were some issues with damage to the brain tissue as well as some difficulty in stimulating multiple locations.

In the field of engineering, microLEDs, which vary from around one tenth to a hundredth the size of a conventional LED, are increasingly garnering attention thanks to the possibilities they are opening up through the development of high-brightness, highly efficient, and high resolution displays. These displays are created by arranging millions of microLEDs in a single 1cm square. In this study, the research team has fabricated a new device that applies this tiny LED in the field of neuroscience. The micro-LEDs are very small, only a few tens of micrometers square, but they can produce light bright enough to activate nerve cells. This new type of neural probe tool can overcome many of the problems presented by conventional neuroscience tools, and its high spatiotemporal resolution enables us to control and record complex neural activity control.

Associate Professor Hiroto Sekiguchi said, “We have been developing LED materials and researching LED micro-integration technology for more than 10 years. As the industrialization of LEDs progressed, I have been looking for new research fields to utilize these new types of LEDs. In the midst of this, I happened by chance to meet a Pharmacology researcher, and we ended up chatting about our research. Six months later, I received a consultation from the Pharmacology researcher, which led to of this research result. I believe that my simple and easy-to-understand explanations, as well as my active interest in discussing topics across different fields, contributed to the development of this interdisciplinary research project combining pharmacology and engineering.”

The research team hopes to contribute to the development of neuroscience by applying the developed MicroLED neural probe to animal experiments related to in vivo optogenetics research. If the understanding of brain functions is advanced using this tool, it is expected to be utilized for developing treatments for various conditions, such as cancer, psychiatric disorders, and epilepsy. In addition, it is expected to have applications for brain-machine interfaces, and in the field of AI concerned with the development of new algorithms based on brain functions.

This study was partially supported by the Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology Agency (JPMJPR1885), Research Foundation for OptoScience and Technology, and the Nitto Foundation.