Developments in application of optogenetics in pain and anxiety: a literature review

Abstract

Optogenetic interventions have put forth unprecedented therapies that help us provide therapeutic treatment to various neurological conditions. This novel therapy allows us to target neuronal tissues in complex mammalian systems with a precise and specific impact using photoresponsive Microbial opsins ( modified to suit mammalian physiologies) that enable cell-type specific, precise biological processing on a millisecond scale. As a result, we have been able to explore numerous new directions as the field develops and becomes more diverse. The literature review that follows will try to examine pain and anxiety as neurological disorders and delve deeper into the advancements that allow optogenetic therapies to treat them, and assess them against the currently available therapies.