The Neuropixels Opto probe has the ability to change how we look at conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and schizophrenia.
The Neuropixels Opto device, developed by scientists at University College London and at the Allen Institute in Seattle, uses tiny sensors to capture detailed electrical signals from neurons distributed along its length while delivering precisely targeted light stimulation at multiple sites in the brain.
The largest breakthrough comes from the precision of the instrument, allowing researchers to monitor hundreds of neurons within the brain, selecting or silencing specific cells using lights, all within a probe described by researchers as smaller than a human hair.
The £15 million project has been noted by scientists for combining monitoring and controlling capabilities in a single device, with Matteo Carandini, professor of visual neuroscience at University College London calling it “a significant advance for neuroscience”.
Researchers have been using the probe to monitor the cerebral cortex due to its function in controlling some of the most advanced brain functions. Due to the device being able to provide a clearer picture of how neural circuits function in both healthy and diseased states, researchers are hopeful that it will be able to shed light on disruptions in how neurons communicate. This is significant, as it is the smoking gun for many disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
As of yet, the technology has only been researched on mice, however the positive results have led to funding by the Wellcome Trust and Allen Institute, as well as other health research organisations, into investigating Neuropixels probe technology. Technological developments such as this have led to increasing hope that scientists can discover innovative treatments for neurological conditions, rather than simply managing the worst of the symptoms.
