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Neuroscience & Mental Health · Recorded milestone

Optogenetics

Recorded year2005

Deisseroth and Boyden switch neurons on and off with light.

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Built on

Integrated circuitRecorded · 1958requires
LaserRecorded · 1960enables
Recombinant DNARecorded · 1973enables
DNA sequencingRecorded · 1977requires
Glowing protein tags (GFP)Recorded · 1994enables

Led to

Switchable drugsForecast · ~2032enables
Whole-brain voltage imagingForecast · ~2036enables

Sources & evidence

Additional source

Dataset updated 2026-10-18. This individual record has not been separately re-reviewed.