Using Optogenetics to Save the Future

Using Optogenetics to Save the Future

Reward and addiction is a deeply and profoundly studied area in neuroscience. Its subtopics range from gambling addiction to bad habits to drug abuse; a common experiment that arises from this study concern potent drugs such as the opiates and amphetamines. Specifically, in what ways and in what locations do these highly addictive substances target? How does one recover, if possible, from such a life-changing and neurochemical disorganization? Another area of concern is the neurochemistry of mental illnesses or neural diseases such as Parkinson's Disease. The brain imbalances of these can be studied in a similar way to that of the human brain's reward system: through the use of optogenetics.

Doctor Stephan Steidl, assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago, specializes in the dopamine reward system, which is the brain’s main target location for drugs. In his research article titled, “Operant Responding for Optogenetic Excitation of Ldtg Inputs to the VTA Requires D1 and D2 Dopamine Receptor Activation in the Nacc”, he studies the part of the brain that contributes to the reward pathway in response to optogenetics. Optogenetics is a common neuroscientific method that monitors brain activity with the use of light-sensitive proteins against genes. In his study, he instigates the reward center by having a mouse lever press by switching a light on and off. This has shown to excite the LTDg and the VTA areas of the brain. The stimulated neurons then caused the mice to repetitively press the lever in a rather short amount of time, and this pattern of neuronal activity illustrates the general basis of reward and addiction.

 

An article from the website The Scientific American, reinforces the idea that optogenetics is a reliable and effective method of recording and researching neuronal activity. Doctor Nayef Al-Rodhan’s article “Optogenetics Lights Up Therapeutic Neuroscience” explains the reward pathway in a similar way, while also suggesting further uses for optogenetics, such as treatment for Parkinson’s Disease or depression. Although this article is not about a specific finding, both Steidl and Al-Rodhan stress that this new genetic engineering has worked significantly better than older methods like electrodes. Genetic engineering that can trace reward systems offers more accuracy in laboratories. He states that optogenetics “is a crucial advance because in living brains, timing is everything” (Al-Rodhan 1). The precisely controlled signals used in the method could make or break a life. 

In research trying to prevent or further investigate substances of abuse, for example, optogenetics may be able to physically help a user who cannot mentally quit using. Optogenetics could find the answers to “ending chronic pain, providing a welcome alternative to opoids” (Al-Rodhan 1). Obviously, many ethical and financial measures would need to be considered for this to happen in the future. However, the current research that is going into curing diseases or learning more about harmful addictive behaviors is crucial to carry on, as Steidl and Al-Rodhan demonstrate.

Works Cited

Al-Rodhan, Dr Nayef. “Optogenetics Lights Up Therapeutic Neuroscience.” Scientific

American, A Division of Nature America, Inc., 23 June 2016, www.scientificamerican.com/article/optogenetics-lights-up-therapeutic-neuroscience/.

Steidl, Stephan, et al. "Operant Responding for Optogenetic Excitation of Ldtg Inputs to the VTA Requires D1 and D2 Dopamine Receptor Activation in the Nacc."

Behavioural Brain Research, vol. 333, 30 Aug. 2017, pp. 161-170. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2017.06.045.