Dr. Inbal Goshen - ELSC

Tuesday, Jul 15, 2014

Optogenetics is the relatively new science that enables light beams inside the brain to activate and control the brain’s nerve cells. New ELSC researcher Dr. Inbal Goshen is using this advanced technique to provide unprecedented insight into the brain’s neural code. Goshen implants light-sensitive optical fibers into specific subsets of the brain’s nerve cells. Then, by shining a light on these cells, she manipulates the individual nerve cells by using the light as a “switch” to turn the cells on and off.

Drawing on her background in neurobiology and psychology, Goshen is testing the role of these nerve cells in common psychiatric disorders including depression and autism. Goshen, who recently completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford University, described optogenetics as a “very powerful tool that is opening up new research possibilities.” “At the end of the day, I care about how it affects behavior,” she says.

For more information on Dr. Inbal Goshen's lab, CLICK HERE