Open source laser-scanning photostimulation for neuroscience with Zapit

Optogenetic tools are essential for deciphering the causal neural mechanisms behind animal behavior, allowing for precise control over genetically defined neural populations. Random-access laser-scanning optogenetics is a highly effective, yet underused technique that enables transient manipulation of cortical activity in mice. However, there is currently no widely available open-source implementation of this technique, and using it requires expertise in optics, real-time hardware control, and programming.

This lack of accessible resources presents a significant obstacle to its adoption, particularly for new research groups. In this paper, we introduce 'Zapit', the first open-source platform for conducting random-access laser-scanning optogenetic experiments in head-fixed mice. Zapit is fully documented, features a user-friendly graphical user interface, works in stereotaxic coordinates, and offers easy-to-assemble hardware options that surpass the capabilities of any previously published system.

To verify the performance of Zapit, we conducted electrophysiological recordings and cortical photoinhibition in behaving mice. Zapit represents a groundbreaking and innovative tool with the potential to make laser-scanning optogenetics more accessible to the scientific community, thereby significantly increasing its utilization.