Novel techniques for large-scale manipulations of cortical networks in non-human primates.

Optogenetics is a powerful tool that enables millisecond-level control of the activity of specific groups of neurons. Furthermore, it has the great advantage of artifact free recordings. These characteristics make this technique ideal for relating brain function to behavior in animals with great behavioral capabilities such as non-human primates (NHPs). We recently introduced a practical, stable interface for optogenetic stimulation and recording of large-scale cortical circuits in NHPs. Here we present the various potentials of this interface for studying circuits and connectivity at a large-scale and for relating it to behavior.