Park, S.I. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 113, E8169–E8177 (2016).

Implantable devices facilitate optogenetics experiments in freely moving mice, but so far they have only been designed for single-region, single-wavelength experiments. Park et al. now report multichannel devices that can be remotely powered via their on-board stretchable antennae. Power is provided through an array of transmitter antennae that emit radio frequency waves depending on the position of the animals within the behavioral arena, thereby optimizing overall power dissemination. This technology allows independent control of up to three light sources in the implants, making it possible to independently illuminate different optogenetic actuators or different brain regions. The researchers use the implantable devices and the associated transmitter antenna array to independently activate neurons in the dorsal or ventral nucleus accumbens in order to decipher the role of these regions in reward and aversion behavior within the same animals.