Physics behind laser thermogenetic neurostimulation

Abstract

We present a physical model of laser thermogenetic neurostimulation, which combines radiation- and heat-transfer analysis with thermodynamic treatment of thermosensitive cell-membrane ion channels and the electrophysical description of the neuron response to the thermal gating of ion channels. Based on the analysis performed within the framework of this model, we identify the parameter space within which laser thermogenetic neurostimulation can be confined to a single neuron and show that an accurately dosed nonstationary heat transfer set off by near-infrared laser pulses with a laser wavelength chosen within the transparency window of water, centered at ≈1670 nm, can help extend single-cell thermogenetic neurostimulation to deep brain regions.