Abstract
Neurons in a complex network communicate with each other through synaptic connections. Molecular
dynamics, including cellular receptors and scaffolding proteins at synaptic terminals, are essential for
synaptic transmission and the subsequent synaptic plasticity of the neuronal networks involved in learning
and memory. The artificial control of synaptic transmission in neuronal networks requires a novel
approach to accurately design perturbations into neurons at the single-cell level. Herein, we demonstrate
the molecular manipulation of neurons by optical trapping with a focused laser beam. We evaluated molecular
dynamics in an optical trap of cell surface molecules on neurons by fluorescence imaging and
fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to achieve the reversible control of synaptic transmission in neuronal
networks.
