Integrated optoelectronics for neural stimulation and recording in freely moving animals

Specific classes of neural cells in the mammalian brain can be rendered visible light sensitive by genetic means. We combine the new `optogenetics' neural stimulation with simultaneous electrical recording from neural microcircuits in freely moving rats in an integrated cortically implanted optoelectronic microarray device. This enables both `write-in' and `read-out' of neural information in behaving animals.