Individually addressable optoelectronic arrays for optogenetic neural stimulation

Here we demonstrate the use of a micro-Light Emitting Diode Arrays as a powerful tool for complex spatiotemporal control of photosensitized neurons. The array can generate arbitrary, 2D, excitation patterns with millisecond and micrometer resolution. In particular, we describe an active matrix control address system to allow simultaneous control of 256 individual micro light emitting diodes. We present the system optically integrated into a microscope environment and patch clamp electrophysiology. The results show that the emitters have sufficient radiance at the required wavelength to stimulate neurons expressing channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2).