Optogenetic activation
Optogenetic activation has been studied in 3 papers since 2016: none in people yet, 3 in animals; 1 in the past year. The research so far is in animals. The newest paper, Mar 26, 2026: “Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation Improves Post-Anesthesia Motor Function in Aged Mice via Dual striatal Pathways: Dopamine Release and THIN Activation”.
3 papers study it4 findingsUpdated
- 3 independent labs in 3 countries
- 1 finding against
- Funders: Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology and others
- Animals1
- Model organisms2
What did studies of Optogenetic activation find?
3Studies of Optogenetic activation measured 3 outcomes; the most studied are lifespan (2 studies), motor performance (1) and INS-6 expression (1).
Lifespan
upin flies1downin worms1
2 studies
Lifespan
upin flies1downin worms1
Optogenetic activation extends lifespan in flies.
“optogenetic activation of a subset of hunger-promoting neurons is sufficient to recapitulate these effects.”
Model organismshunger-promoting neuron
Encoding of hunger by the neuronal epigenome slows aging in Drosophila
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)Preprint
Optogenetic activation shortens lifespan in worms.
“treatment with food-derived cues or optogenetic activation of sensory neurons significantly increases ins-6 expression and decreases life span.”
Model organismssensory neuron
Food-derived sensory cues modulate longevity via distinct neuroendocrine insulin-like peptides
Genes & development
Motor performance
upin mice1
1 study
Motor performance
upin mice1
Optogenetic activation improves motor performance in mice (p < 0.01).
“Optogenetic THIN activation recapitulated motor and β‐band enhancement (both p < 0.01)”
Animalsseparate cohort
Research SquarePreprint
INS-6 expression
upin worms1
1 study
INS-6 expression
upin worms1
Optogenetic activation increases INS-6 expression in worms.
“treatment with food-derived cues or optogenetic activation of sensory neurons significantly increases ins-6 expression and decreases life span.”
Model organismssensory neuron
Food-derived sensory cues modulate longevity via distinct neuroendocrine insulin-like peptides
Genes & development