Remote control of neural activity using chemical genetics

Abstract

Understanding how the nervous system functions requires a methodological toolbox for the manipulation of neuronal circuits. Over the last decade, there has been an explosion in the availability of methods to map and manipulate genetically defi ned populations of neurons. The control of neural signaling via pharmacological receptor-ligand interactions, or chemical genetics, allows for the modulation of neural signaling at an intermediate time scale and provides a complimentary approach to other technologies such as optogenetics. Here, we review the variety of chemical genetic techniques that are currently available and discuss the considerations that must be undertaken when choosing a technique for a particular experimental system.