High-resolution optogenetics generates distinguishable neocortical activity patterns in awake mice

The neural basis of cognition is rooted in precisely coordinated population activity unfolding on the millisecond timescale. To causally probe these spatiotemporally intricate network dynamics, we developed a digital micromirror device (DMD)-based photostimulation platform featuring grid patterns with up to 2-μm spatial and 0.2-ms temporal resolution across a 2-mm-diameter area. Spatiotemporally patterned photostimulation to the primary somatosensory cortex of channelrhodopsin-2-expressing mice reliably evoked distinct electrophysiological population responses that deep learning algorithms accurately classified. Notably, rapidly changing illumination patterns evoked cortical activity with greater trial-to-trial consistency than conventional constant photostimulation. Thus, DMD-based spatiotemporal optogenetics enables precise and reproducible control of in vivo neuronal population activity.