TY - JOUR T1 - Nonhuman Primate Optogenetics: Recent Advances and Future Directions JF - The Journal of Neuroscience JO - J. Neurosci. SP - 10894 LP - 10903 DO - 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1839-17.2017 VL - 37 IS - 45 AU - Adriana Galvan AU - William R. Stauffer AU - Leah Acker AU - Yasmine El-Shamayleh AU - Ken-ichi Inoue AU - Shay Ohayon AU - Michael C. Schmid Y1 - 2017/11/08 UR - http://www.jneurosci.org/content/37/45/10894.abstract N2 - Optogenetics is the use of genetically coded, light-gated ion channels or pumps (opsins) for millisecond resolution control of neural activity. By targeting opsin expression to specific cell types and neuronal pathways, optogenetics can expand our understanding of the neural basis of normal and pathological behavior. To maximize the potential of optogenetics to study human cognition and behavior, optogenetics should be applied to the study of nonhuman primates (NHPs). The homology between NHPs and humans makes these animals the best experimental model for understanding human brain function and dysfunction. Moreover, for genetic tools to have translational promise, their use must be demonstrated effectively in large, wild-type animals such as Rhesus macaques. Here, we review recent advances in primate optogenetics. We highlight the technical hurdles that have been cleared, challenges that remain, and summarize how optogenetic experiments are expanding our understanding of primate brain function. ER -