Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Leland Stanford Junior University

Sung-Yon Kim

Karl A Deisseroth

Kwanghun Chung

Kimberly Ohn

Evan Murray

Jae Hun Cho

Avishek Adhikari

The present disclosure provides methods of modulating a feature of a behavioral state. The methods involve inhibiting or activating the activity of a bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST) neuron, a BNST subnucleus, or a neuronal output to or from a BNST neuron. Animals encounter environmental conditions that require rapid switching among different behavioral states to increase the likelihood of survival and reproduction.

Optogenetic control of behavioral state

Articles and methods for the active transport of molecules into, within, and/or from a matrix are generally described. In some embodiments, an electric field may be used to alter the position of the molecule with respect to the matrix. The electric field may be used to move the molecule to a new location within the matrix, remove the molecule from the matrix, or infuse the molecule into the matrix. For instance, the electric field may be used to move a molecule having a binding partner within the matrix into or away from the vicinity of the binding partner. In some embodiments, the position of the molecule may be altered by exposing the molecule to an electrodynamic field. In some such embodiments, the molecule exposed to the dynamic electric field may have enhanced mobility and minimal adverse matrix interactions relative to conventional molecular transport methods, and in some cases, a molecule exposed to an electrostatic field. The active transport methods and articles, described herein, may be particularly well-suited for a variety of applications including histological, biological, and pharmaceutical applications.

Active transport of charged molecules into, within, and/or from charged matrices

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Sung-Yon Kim