The human brain has been deemed the most complex organ and has captivated neuroscientists for decades. Most studies of this organ have relied on reductionist model systems. Although all model systems are essentially wrong, cerebral organoids so far represent the closest recapitulation of human brain development and disease both in terms of cell diversity and organization. The optogenetic technique can be used in this context to study the functional neuroanatomy of the brain, to examine the neural circuits, and to determine the etiology of neurological disorders. In this opinion article, we suggest ways in which optogenetics can be combined with cerebral organoids to allow unprecedented precision and accuracy in studying normal and aberrant neurodevelopmental processes and, as well, neurodegenerative diseases.

中文翻译：

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脑器官时代的光遗传学。

人脑被认为是最复杂的器官，数十年来一直吸引着神经科学家。该器官的大多数研究都依赖于还原论模型系统。尽管所有模型系统本质上都是错误的，但就细胞多样性和组织而言，到目前为止脑类器官代表了人类大脑发育和疾病的最接近概括。在这种情况下，可以使用光遗传学技术来研究大脑的功能神经解剖结构，检查神经回路并确定神经系统疾病的病因。在这篇观点文章中，我们提出了将光遗传学与脑类器官相结合的方法，从而可以在研究正常和异常的神经发育过程以及神经退行性疾病方面提供空前的准确性和准确性。