光遗传(Optogenetics)结合光学和遗传学手段, 可以精确地控制特定神经元的活动, 为神经科学的研究提供了强有力的手段。光电极在光遗传研究中起着关键的作用, 它可以将光导入到动物体内, 并通过电极记录神经元在光调控下的活动。为了减小体积、增加功能, 依托高密度集成硅微电极和裸光纤, 设计并制备了一种植入部分横截面尺寸不超过0.1mm2、包含2个平行的给光通道和32个记录点的光电极器件。与传统的单光通道电极相比, 两个通道可以更灵活地配置不同的激发波长, 对不同位点的神经元同时进行激活或抑制。32通道的硅电极与传统的金属丝电极相比, 集成度更高, 能够以更高的空间分辨率记录神经元在激发前后的活动情况。

Combining optical and genetic methods, optogenetics can precisely control the activity of specific neurons, which provides a powerful means for neuroscience research. The optrode can introduce light into animals and record the activity of neurons under the control of light through the electrode. In order to reduce its volume and improve its function, a kind of implant optrode with the cross-section size less than 0.1mm2 was designed and fabricated based on high-density integrated silicon microelectrode and bare optical fiber. Compared with the traditional single-channel electrode, the designed optrode is composed of two optical channel and 32 recording sites. The two channels can configure different excitation wavelengths more flexibly to activate or inhibit neurons at different sites at the same time. Compared with the traditional wire electrode, the 32-channel silicon electrode has higher integration and higher spatial resolution to record the activity of neurons before and after stimulation.