Programmable light for circuit optogenetics
Thousands of neurons addressed by one holographic pattern, rewritten in real time.
From single cells to neural circuits
Optogenetics uses light to control neuronal activity. Applied across neural circuits, it offers a way to activate selected populations, suppress others, and probe how distributed activity gives rise to function.
HoloGenetics brings HoloTile's holographic light shaping to this challenge. By computing the full optical pattern, we enable simultaneous, precisely shaped stimulation of many selected cells in three dimensions, with patterns reconfigured in software as experiments unfold.
The goal is to move from stimulating individual neurons to programming activity across neural circuits. Stimulation in neural tissue has not yet been demonstrated.
One light field, thousands of cells
01
Shape the whole field
HoloGenetics computes a holographic light pattern to address thousands of selected cells simultaneously, shaping illumination at each target.
02
Reconfigure in real time
Recompute and reshape the light field as the experiment unfolds, redirecting stimulation across thousands of cells to follow changing experimental needs.
03
Reach across 3D tissue
Direct light to selected positions and depths throughout a three-dimensional volume, extending stimulation beyond a single plane.
What we are building toward
HoloGenetics aims to bring HoloTile's light-shaping capabilities to neural circuits, enabling large-scale, precise and dynamic optical control.
Real-time parallel stimulation
Address thousands of selected cells in a single exposure rather than scanning them one by one, with the potential to coordinate stimulation across an entire neural population.
10,000+ addressable sites
Select any subset from a vast field of potential targets. The number and arrangement of sites are defined in software, not fixed by the optical layout.
Uniform, speckle-free spots
Shape light into clean, controlled spots with consistent intensity, aiming to deliver predictable stimulation across the targeted population.
Independent beam shaping
Control the size and intensity profile of each spot, adapting illumination to individual cells and experimental requirements.
Compact, integrable optics
Generate complex light patterns within the light engine, reducing reliance on elaborate external optics and enabling integration with existing microscopes and experimental setups.
Multi-wavelength operation
Combine different wavelengths in one optical system to support activation, inhibition and imaging across the same neural circuit.
Where it applies
HoloGenetics is designed for experiments that probe how populations of neurons work together, rather than how individual cells respond in isolation.
Circuit optogenetics, 1P and 2P
Activate or silence selected neuronal populations to investigate their roles in circuit function. One-photon excitation enables broad stimulation patterns, while two-photon excitation offers more spatially selective targeting within tissue.
3D brain tissue and volumetric stimulation
Target neurons distributed across three-dimensional tissue, from brain slices and organoids to intact preparations, extending stimulation beyond a single focal plane.
Closed-loop read/write experiments
Combine neural recording with programmable optical stimulation. Use measured activity to select targets and update stimulation patterns as the circuit responds, enabling experiments that adapt in real time.
Coverage and mentions
The two-photon optogenetics work HoloGenetics builds on, and papers on the HoloTile light engine behind it.
Running optogenetics experiments?
We want to define this with the people who will use it. If you run a neuroscience group or build instruments, tell us what your experiments need: field of view, number of targets, depth, wavelengths and update rate. We are open to requirements discussions and joint development.