Optogenetics in Neurons

Abstract

This activity is designed to be used in a university mid-level neuroscience course. It will introduce the use of optogenetics as a mechanism for manipulating neural activity and promote development of data-analysis and scientific writing skills. This optogenetics POGIL will reinforce the principles of how ionic concentration gradients relate to neural activity and lead students to evaluate how these principles work in a real-world application. Students will have to synthesize this information and create a hypothesis of how it may work in an experimental situation.

Level: Undergraduate
Setting: Classroom
Activity Type: Learning Cycle
Discipline: Neuroscience / Biology
Course: Principles of neuroscience
Keywords: optogenetics, experimental techniques, data analysis, ions, neuroscience