Browsing by Author "del Rio Pulido, Daniela"
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Item Optimizing extra-cranial light source location based on light intensity simulation in hippocampus(2024-07-24) del Rio Pulido, Daniela; Kemere, Caleb TThe hippocampus (HC) is a deep brain region critical for long-term memory formation. Since the early 2000s, neuroscience has changed from using temporal and spatial non-specific tools to relying on optogenetics because of its selective control over neural activity using light. Recent studies have delivered light to deep brain regions through implanted optical fibers; however, this invasive procedure inevitably causes tissue damage. Neuroscience research could improve by combining temporal and spatial specificity provided by optogenetics and non-invasive light delivery. In this work, I simulate light intensity on the surface of the CA1 layer of HC using a 2-layer simulation of the Lambert-Beer equation. Anatomical brain regions were determined using the open-source Waxholm Space atlas of the Sprague Dawley rat brain. Given a fixed number of light sources, we found the optimal location of the light source(s) on a rat's skull to maximize light intensity on the surface of CA1, the target region. The real-world application of placing light sources in optimal skull locations will enable minimal brain damage while preserving the temporal and spatial specificity provided by optogenetics.