DEMONSTRATION OF AN OPTOGENETIC NEURONAL CONTROL INTERFACE

Abstract

Improved nerve interface approaches are sought for prosthesis control and sensory feedback as well as visceral organ study/modulation. Optical approaches that can read-in and read-out neural activity have advantages over electrode-based systems in terms of selectivity and non-invasiveness. To address limitations of existing nerve interface designs, we present an optical approach capable of reading activity from individual nerve fibers using activity-dependent calcium transients. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of using activity-dependent calcium transients to a control prosthetic hand. This work provides a proof-of-concept for an optogenetic nerve interface demonstrating as it does our ability to read-out signals at the axonal scale in real-time and apply it to a devices control.