c-fos

I am using c-fos as an example of what is conceptually possible with markers, rather than proposing the actual use of c-fos itself.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

Both genes have the above-mentioned control element that looks to see if c-fos is present remember, the presence of c-fos signifies that a neuron has just been active.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

But one can imagine some kind of statistical technique that will be able to detect the simultaneous co-occurrence of c-fos generation in particular groups of neurons.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

One can then fire the clique again and again at will, as long as one does it quickly enough to keep the c-fos from dissipating.20 One can make the brain re-imagine that apple as many times as desired.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

Genes like green fluorescent protein GFP and channelrhodopsin can be given a control element so that they only act if c-fos protein is present.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

This gene promptly directs the making of a protein, which is also named c-fos.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

Therefore, the presence of c-fos protein in a neuron is an indicator that it has just fired.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

The c-fos protein floats around in the body of the neuron.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

The scientists used a combination of c-fos and channelrhodopsin to selectively trigger a single clique by shining blue light onto the brain tissue.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011

When a neuron fires it switches on a gene named c-fos.

World Wide Mind Michael chorost 2011