By comparing the response to mechanical stimuli with the response to light of TrkB-positive neurons expressing the light-activated channelrhodopsin2, neurons involved in the response to light touch were identified. The left shows a diagram of the nerves that were detected electrophysiologically. The middle shows the firing pattern of the 6 kinds of nerves when stimulated with touch (mechanical stimulation). The right shows the response of the TrkB-positive, optogenetically engineered nerves to light. D-hair and RAM nerves respond to light and touch, indicating those are the TrkB-positive sensory nerves innervating mouse skin. From Figure 2a Dhandapani, et al. Nat. Comm. 9, 1640 (2018) DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04049-3.
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N. R. Gough, Zapping Chronic Pain with Red Light. BioSerendipity (26 April 2018). https://www.bioserendipity.com/zapping-chronic-pain-with-red-light/