Do Neurons Communicate with Light?

Can living neurons act as waveguides to transport light like fiber-optic communication channels? The answer to this question remains unknown and to have that answer is the goal of this project. Many indications point to the probable existence of a light-based communication mechanism between living neurons. If that is the case, the consequences can be tremendous and profoundly affect our understanding of the nervous system. Furthermore, implications from the point of view of medical treatment of brain diseases could drastically change the way physicians could heal or manipulate the brain. The reasons for not having such an answer yet, despite the formidable advances in fields like biotechnology and nanophotonics, rely on the significant challenge of measuring light transport through the tiny and delicate structure of a living neuron surrounded by an aqueous-based neuron-friendly environment. Therefore, an approach must be developed based on the fabrication of specific nanophotonic probes able to interact optically with living neurons. With this project, we will fabricate the nanoprobes on a highly biocompatible, neuron-friendly material and perform light transport experiments on living neurons to establish whether light transport through them occurs.