nih-gov/www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-updates/2014/channel-makeover-bioengineered-to-switch-off-neurons
2025-03-17 02:05:34 +00:00

846 lines
61 KiB
Text
Raw Blame History

This file contains invisible Unicode characters

This file contains invisible Unicode characters that are indistinguishable to humans but may be processed differently by a computer. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" data-nid="7966">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8" />
<meta name="description" content="Scientists have bioengineered an enhancement to a cutting edge technology that provides instant control over brain circuit activity with a flash of light. The research adds the same level of control over switching neurons off that, until now, had been limited to switching them on. What had been working through a weak pump now works through a highly responsive channel -- like going from a squirt to a gushing hose." />
<link rel="canonical" href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-updates/2014/channel-makeover-bioengineered-to-switch-off-neurons" />
<meta property="og:site_name" content="National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)" />
<meta property="og:title" content="Channel Makeover Bioengineered to Switch Off Neurons" />
<meta property="og:description" content="Scientists have bioengineered an enhancement to a cutting edge technology that provides instant control over brain circuit activity with a flash of light. The research adds the same level of control over switching neurons off that, until now, had been limited to switching them on. What had been working through a weak pump now works through a highly responsive channel -- like going from a squirt to a gushing hose." />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="Scientists have bioengineered an enhancement to a cutting edge technology that provides instant control over brain circuit activity with a flash of light. The research adds the same level of control over switching neurons off that, until now, had been limited to switching them on. What had been working through a weak pump now works through a highly responsive channel -- like going from a squirt to a gushing hose." />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Channel Makeover Bioengineered to Switch Off Neurons" />
<meta name="twitter:site" content="@nimhgov" />
<meta name="google-site-verification" content="lKfmfhtNgohd8-snRwpaLWOcbbkS_saLoN9IUJKBvUM" />
<meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" />
<meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" />
<meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" />
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
<script>
var mainDomain = document.location.hostname.match(/(([^.\/]+\.[^.\/]{2,3}\.[^.\/]{2})|(([^.\/]+\.)[^.\/]{2,4}([^.\/]+\.)[^.\/]{2,4}))(\/.*)?$/)[1];
try{dataLayer.push({'baseDomain': mainDomain.toLowerCase()});}
catch(err){ dataLayer = [{'baseDomain': mainDomain.toLowerCase()}];} (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':
new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],
j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&amp;l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src=
'https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);
})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-T58NF4');
</script>
<script>
window._monsido = window._monsido || {
token: "VsAIOc905Tjeazm18evt9w",
statistics: {
enabled: true,
cookieLessTracking: true,
documentTracking: {
enabled: true,
documentCls: "",
documentIgnoreCls: "",
documentExt: ["doc","docx","pdf","ppt","pptx","rtf","txt","xls","xlsx"],
},
},
heatmap: {
enabled: true,
},
};
</script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://app-script.monsido.com/v2/monsido-script.js" async></script>
<link rel="icon" href="/themes/nimhtheme/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" />
<title>Channel Makeover Bioengineered to Switch Off Neurons - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_ZTsUHDjQheI_A-r3j4HasLaMAxDXgu8kk05RpTWGtEs.css?delta=0&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nimhtheme&amp;include=eJxNybsNwCAMBcCFIMxkwgMs-RPFbtg-ba49xWBqkyXxXjc9yW7FWHduKNoS7yQ18gjb-of7EtTpllHiREJbp8AH6ZgfHQ" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_hCFOd9odoQi9Sb_-X1tdJUsdnGzf9PI7mC1Uc81hfRY.css?delta=1&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nimhtheme&amp;include=eJxNybsNwCAMBcCFIMxkwgMs-RPFbtg-ba49xWBqkyXxXjc9yW7FWHduKNoS7yQ18gjb-of7EtTpllHiREJbp8AH6ZgfHQ" />
<link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400,700|Roboto:400,500|Petit+Formal+Script" />
</head>
<body>
<a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable">
Skip to main content
</a>
<noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-T58NF4" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe>
</noscript>
<div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas>
<div class="layout-container">
<div>
<div id="block-nimhtheme-governmentdomainbanner" class="block block-block-content block-block-content976fab65-59c7-46e1-bf9f-cf5178b680b4">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official website of the United States government"><div class="usa-accordion"><header class="usa-banner__header"><div class="usa-banner__inner"><div class="grid-col-auto"><img class="usa-banner__header-flag" aria-hidden="true" src="/themes/nimhtheme/uswds/images/us_flag_small.png" alt></div><div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto" aria-hidden="true"><p class="usa-banner__header-text">An official website of the United States government</p><p class="usa-banner__header-action">Heres how you know</p></div><p class="m-0 p-0"><button class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" type="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default"><span class="usa-banner__button-text">Heres how you know</span></button></p></div></header><div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default" hidden><div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg"><div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"><p><img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/themes/nimhtheme/uswds/images/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt aria-hidden="true"></p><div class="usa-media-block__body"><p><strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br>A <strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.</p></div></div><div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6"><p><img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="/themes/nimhtheme/uswds/images/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt aria-hidden="true"></p><div class="usa-media-block__body"><p><strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br>A <strong>lock</strong> ( <span class="icon-lock"><svg class="usa-banner__lock-image" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default" focusable="false"><title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title> <desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc> <path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z" /></svg></span>) or <strong>https://</strong> means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.</p></div></div></div></div></div></section></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="header-wrapper">
<div class="header-container">
<header role="banner">
<div id="main-header-layout" >
<div id="block-sitebranding-2" class="block block-system block-system-branding-block">
<a href="/" title="NIMH Home" rel="home">
<img src="/themes/nimhtheme/nimh-logo.svg" alt="NIMH Logo" />
</a>
</div>
<div id="block-nimhtheme-incrisisstickybox" class="block block-block-content block-block-content34cda229-f96b-4500-8796-12d7fc307d77">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div id="nimh-in-crisis-callout"><a href="https://988lifeline.org/"><i class="fa-light fa-circle-exclamation" aria-hidden="true"></i> &nbsp;In Crisis? Call or Text 988 &nbsp;<i class="fa-regular fa-angles-right"></i></a></div></div>
</div>
<div id="block-tagline" class="block block-block-content block-block-contentf3b653dc-7e5d-4582-8234-a93001424fde">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p id="tagline">Transforming the understanding
<br>
and treatment of mental illnesses.
</p></div>
</div>
<div id="block-nimhtheme-searchsite" class="block block-block-content block-block-content0946d2cf-ffcf-44fb-b65d-3057740945c0">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p class="m-0 text-small text-right d-none d-lg-block"><a href="/">Home</a> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <a href="/site-info/contact-nimh" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3b82dd34-6040-4763-a9ff-db0c3d5b6a38" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Contact Us</a> &nbsp;|&nbsp; <a href="/health/find-help" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="95a25c22-6bc4-4ac3-ad7b-d3aca76eaed0" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Help for Mental Illnesses</a></p><div class="mobile-helper-icons"><span class="hidden-md hidden-lg"><i class="fas fa-search search_icon"></i></span> <span class="menu_icon sb-toggle-right hidden-md hidden-lg"><i class="fas fa-bars"></i></span></div><form class="search-in-banner" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="/search-nimh" id="search_form" method="get" name="Search" role="search"><p class="mt-2 mb-1"><label for="query"><span class="hidden">Search the NIMH Website: </span></label><input class="searchbox usagov-search-autocomplete ui-autocomplete-input" aria-label="Search the NIMH website" autocomplete="off" id="query" name="query" placeholder="Search the NIMH website" type="text"> <input type="submit" value="Search"></p></form><div class="hidden-xs hidden-sm"><p class="small text-right m-0"><a href="/health/topics/espanol" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d6df42f3-6876-496e-918c-cc34cc7681f7" data-entity-substitution="canonical" lang="es">Información en español</a></p></div></div>
</div>
</div>
</header>
</div>
</div> <div id="menu_horizontal" class="primary-menu-container">
<div>
<nav id="block-nimhtheme-main-menu" role="navigation" aria-label="Main navigation" id="block-nimhtheme-main-menu">
<ul class="main-menu-content">
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health" class="main-menu__health" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1925">Mental Health Information</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved" class="main-menu__getinvolved" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2019">Get Involved</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/research" class="main-menu__research" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7518">Research</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding" class="main-menu__funding" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1128">Funding</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news" class="main-menu__news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2128">News &amp; Events</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about" class="main-menu__about" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7558">About Us</a>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="megamenu_container">
<div id="health-megamenu" class="megamenu">
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/health/topics">
<h2>Health Topics</h2>
<p>NIMH offers expert-reviewed information on mental disorders and a range of topics.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/health/statistics">
<h2>Statistics</h2>
<p>NIMH statistics pages include statistics on the prevalence, treatment, and costs of mental illness for the population of the United States.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/health/publications">
<h2>Brochures and Fact Sheets</h2>
<p>Download, read, and order free NIMH brochures and fact sheets about mental disorders and related topics.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/health/find-help">
<h2>Help for Mental Illnesses</h2>
<p>If you or someone you know has a mental illness, there are ways to get help. Use these resources to find help for yourself, a friend, or a family member.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/health/trials">
<h2>Clinical Trials</h2>
<p>If you or a friend or family member are thinking about taking part in clinical research, this page contains basic information about clinical trials.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="getinvolved-megamenu" class="megamenu">
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/get-involved/public-involvement">
<h2>Stakeholder Engagement</h2>
<p>Find out how NIMH engages a range of stakeholder organizations as part of its efforts to ensure the greatest public health impact of the research we support.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/get-involved/connect-with-nimh">
<h2>Connect with NIMH</h2>
<p>Learn more about NIMH newsletters, public participation in grant reviews, research funding, clinical trials, the NIMH Gift Fund, and connecting with NIMH on social media. </p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/get-involved/digital-shareables">
<h2>Digital Shareables</h2>
<p>Use these free education and outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health and related topics.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/get-involved/science-education">
<h2>Science Education</h2>
<p>Use these free digital, outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/get-involved/events">
<h2>Upcoming Observances and Related Events</h2>
<p>Get Involved observances calendar</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="research-megamenu" class="megamenu">
<div class="menu_flexbox_span6">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/research/research-funded-by-nimh">
<h2>Research Funded by NIMH</h2>
<p>NIMH supports research at universities, medical centers, and other institutions via grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Learn more about NIMH research areas, policies, resources, and initiatives.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span6">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/research/research-conducted-at-nimh">
<h2>Research Conducted at NIMH (Intramural Research Program)</h2>
<p>The Division of Intramural Research Programs (IRP) is the internal research division of the NIMH. Over 40 research groups conduct basic neuroscience research and clinical investigations of mental illnesses, brain function, and behavior at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Maryland. Learn more about research conducted at NIMH.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span6">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/research/priority-research-areas">
<h2>Priority Research Areas</h2>
<p>Learn about NIMH priority areas for research and funding that have the potential to improve mental health care over the short, medium, and long term.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span6">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/research/research-funded-by-nimh/research-resources">
<h2>Resources for Researchers</h2>
<p>Information about resources such as data, tissue, model organisms and imaging resources to support the NIMH research community.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="funding-megamenu" class="megamenu">
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/funding/opportunities-announcements">
<h2>Opportunities &amp; Announcements</h2>
<p>Find all NIMH and cross-NIH funding opportunities.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/funding/funding-strategy-for-research-grants">
<h2>Funding Strategy for Grants</h2>
<p>Read more about the NIMH Strategic Plan for Research, Strategic Research Priorities, the anatomy of NIMH funding, and our yearly funding strategy for research grants.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/funding/grant-writing-and-application-process">
<h2>Application Process</h2>
<p>Explore the NIMH grant application process, including how to write your grant, how to submit your grant, and how the review process works.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/funding/managing-your-grant">
<h2>Managing Grants</h2>
<p>Learn about how NIMH manages research grants, including policies and reporting requirements.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/funding/clinical-research">
<h2>Clinical Research</h2>
<p>Find the latest NIH and NIMH policies, guidance, and resources for clinical research.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/funding/training">
<h2>Training</h2>
<p>Explore NIMH research training and career development opportunities.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/funding/sbir">
<h2>Small Business Research</h2>
<p>Learn about funding opportunities for small businesses.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner_extra">
<div class="menu_inner_pad">
<section class="box">
<h3>Quick Links</h3>
<p><a href="/funding/opportunities-announcements/funding-grant-news">Funding &amp; Grant News</a></p>
<p><a href="/funding/opportunities-announcements/clinical-trials-foas">Support for Clinical Trials at NIMH</a></p>
</section>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="news-megamenu" class="megamenu">
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/news/science-updates">
<h2>Science Updates</h2>
<p>List of NIMH science updates including press releases, research highlights, and institute announcements.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/news/events">
<h2>Meetings and Events</h2>
<p>Details about upcoming events—including meetings, conferences, workshops, lectures, webinars, and chats—sponsored by NIMH.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/news/media">
<h2>Multimedia</h2>
<p>NIMH videos and podcasts featuring science news, lecture series, meetings, seminars, and special events.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/news/social-media">
<h2>Social Media</h2>
<p>The latest information and resources on mental disorders shared on X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/news/press-resources">
<h2>Press Resources</h2>
<p>Information about NIMH, research results, summaries of scientific meetings, and mental health resources.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/news/email-updates">
<h2>Email Updates</h2>
<p>Updates about mental health topics, including NIMH news, upcoming events, mental disorders, funding opportunities, and research.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/news/innovation-speaker-series">
<h2>Innovation Speaker Series</h2>
<p>An annual lecture series dedicated to innovation, invention, and scientific discovery.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span4">
<div class="menu_inner_extra">
<div class="menu_inner_pad">
<h3>Contact the Press Office</h3>
<p>301-443-4536</p>
<p><a class="single-link" href="mailto:NIMHpress@nih.gov">NIMHpress@nih.gov</a></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="about-megamenu" class="megamenu">
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/director">
<h2>About the Acting NIMH Director</h2>
<p>Learn more about the Acting Director of the NIMH, Shelli Avenevoli, Ph.D.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/advisory-boards-and-groups">
<h2>Advisory Boards and Groups</h2>
<p>Read about the boards and groups that advise and provide guidance to the Institute.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/strategic-planning-reports">
<h2>Strategic Plan</h2>
<p>Learn more about NIMH's roadmap for the Institutes research priorities over the next five years.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/organization">
<h2>Offices and Divisions</h2>
<p>Learn more about the functions of each NIMH office and division.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/budget">
<h2>Budget</h2>
<p>Read the annual NIMH Congressional Justifications.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/careers">
<h2>Careers at NIMH</h2>
<p>Search for jobs, including scientific, administrative and executive careers at NIMH.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/staff-directories">
<h2>Staff Directories</h2>
<p>Find the names, telephone numbers, email addresses, and office locations of NIMH staff.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/nimh-history">
<h2>History</h2>
<p>Explore key milestones, discoveries, and the impact of NIMH-funded studies on mental health.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner">
<a class="megamenu_nav_i" href="/about/connect-with-nimh">
<h2>Getting to NIMH</h2>
<p>Find directions, maps, parking information, and other visitor information for NIMH.</p>
</a>
</div>
</div>
<div class="menu_flexbox_span3">
<div class="menu_inner_extra">
<div class="menu_inner_pad">
<h3>Quick Links</h3>
<p><strong><a href="/about/connect-with-nimh/donate-to-mental-health-research" title="Donate to Mental Health Research">Contribute to Mental Health Research</a></strong></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</nav>
<nav id="block-mobilenavigation" role="navigation" aria-label="Mobile navigation" id="block-mobilenavigation">
<p class="mobile-menu-close"><i class="fas fa-times fa-2x"></i></p>
<ul class="main-menu-content">
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health" class="mobile-menu-top-level health-menu" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1925">Mental Health Information</a>
<ul>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1925">Mental Health Information Home</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health/topics" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1926">Health Topics</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health/statistics" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1243">Statistics</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health/publications" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1927">Brochures and Fact Sheets</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health/find-help" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1944">Help for Mental Illnesses</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/health/trials" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2009">Clinical Trials</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved" class="mobile-menu-top-level getinvolved-menu" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2019">Get Involved</a>
<ul>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2019">Get Involved Home</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved/public-involvement" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2127">Stakeholder Engagement</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved/connect-with-nimh" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8488">Connect with NIMH</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved/digital-shareables" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7521">Digital Shareables</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved/science-education" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/10164">Science Education</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/get-involved/events" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/8489">Upcoming Observances and Related Events</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/research" class="mobile-menu-top-level research-menu" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7518">Research</a>
<ul>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/research" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7518">Research Home</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/research/research-funded-by-nimh" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1992">Research Funded by NIMH</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/research/research-conducted-at-nimh" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1123">Research Conducted at NIMH (Intramural Research Program)</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding" class="mobile-menu-top-level funding-menu" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1128">Funding</a>
<ul>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1128">Funding Home</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding/opportunities-announcements" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1029">Opportunities &amp; Announcements</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding/funding-strategy-for-research-grants/strategy-for-research-grants" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1137">Strategy for Research Grants</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding/grant-writing-and-application-process" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1995">Grant Writing &amp; Approval Process</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding/managing-your-grant" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1140">Managing Grants</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding/clinical-research" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1190">Clinical Research</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding/training" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2007">Research Training and Career Development Opportunities</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/funding/sbir" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1674">Small Business Research</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news" class="mobile-menu-top-level news-menu" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2128">News &amp; Events</a>
<ul>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2128">News &amp; Events Home</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news/science-updates" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/4730">Science Updates</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news/events" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1986">Meetings and Events</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news/media" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/5039">Multimedia</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news/social-media" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1659">Social Media</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news/press-resources" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1653">Press Resources</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news/email-updates" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2023">Email Updates</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/news/innovation-speaker-series" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7539">Innovation Speaker Series</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about" class="mobile-menu-top-level about-menu" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7558">About Us</a>
<ul>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7558">About Us Home</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/director" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7459">About the Acting NIMH Director</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/advisory-boards-and-groups" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1964">Advisory Boards and Groups</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/strategic-planning-reports" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1959">Strategic Plan</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/organization" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1963">Offices and Divisions</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/budget" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1967">Budget</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/careers" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/1960">Careers at NIMH</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/staff-directories" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/2030">Staff Directories</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/nimh-history" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/11838">History</a>
</li>
<li class="navmenu_link">
<a href="/about/connect-with-nimh" data-drupal-link-system-path="node/7564">Getting to NIMH</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</nav>
</div>
</div> <div class="submenu">
<div class="container">
<div class="row">
<div class="col-md-12">
<ul class="group navbar">
<li class="span navbarli"><a href="/news/science-updates" class="navbari topnav subroot">Science Updates</a></li>
<li class="span navbarli"><a href="/news/events" class="navbari topnav subroot">Meetings and Events</a></li>
<li class="span navbarli"><a href="/news/media" class="navbari topnav subroot">Multimedia</a></li>
<li class="span navbarli"><a href="/news/social-media" class="navbari topnav subroot">Social Media</a></li>
<li class="span navbarli"><a href="/news/press-resources" class="navbari topnav subroot">Press Resources</a></li>
<li class="span navbarli"><a href="/news/email-updates" class="navbari topnav subroot">Email Updates</a></li>
<li class="span navbarli"><a href="/news/innovation-speaker-series" class="navbari topnav subroot">Innovation Speaker Series</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div>
</div>
<div id="wrapper" class="pt-3 pt-sm-3 pt-md-3 pt-lg-0">
<div class="container pt-5 pt-sm-5 pt-md-5 pt-lg-0">
<div class="row"><div class="col-md-12 hidden-xs"><div class="breadcrumbs"><nav id="breadcrumbs" class="breadcrumbs__nav" aria-label="breadcrumb links" data-dirids="2293 2764 3513"><a href="/" data-dirlevel="0">Home</a> &gt; <a href="/news" data-refid="2128" data-dirlevel="1" data-dirid="2293" >News & Events</a> &gt; <a href="/news/science-updates" data-refid="4730" data-dirlevel="2" data-dirid="2764" >Science Updates</a> &gt; <a href="/news/science-updates/2014" data-refid="4553" data-dirlevel="3" data-dirid="3513" >Science Updates from 2014</a> &gt; <span data-refid="7966" data-dirlevel="4" data-dirid="3513" data-isleaf="1">Channel Makeover Bioengineered to Switch Off Neurons</span></nav></div></div></div>
<div id="main_container">
<section class="share_links_wrap">
<div class="share_links_wrap_inner">
<h6 class="share_links_header">Share Page</h6>
<div class="share_links">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=1086499805165807&amp;display=popup&amp;href=https://www.nimh.nih.gov%2Fnews%2Fscience-updates%2F2014%2Fchannel-makeover-bioengineered-to-switch-off-neurons&amp;redirect_uri=https://www.nimh.nih.gov%2Fnews%2Fscience-updates%2F2014%2Fchannel-makeover-bioengineered-to-switch-off-neurons" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="external-disclaimer" aria-label="Share this page on Facebook"><span class="facebook-share"><i class="fab fa-facebook-f"></i></span></a>
<a href="https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://www.nimh.nih.gov%2Fnews%2Fscience-updates%2F2014%2Fchannel-makeover-bioengineered-to-switch-off-neurons&amp;text=Channel%20Makeover%20Bioengineered%20to%20Switch%20Off%20Neurons" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="external-disclaimer" aria-label="Share this page on X"><span class="twitter-share"><i class="fab fa-x-twitter"></i></span></a>
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.nimh.nih.gov%2Fnews%2Fscience-updates%2F2014%2Fchannel-makeover-bioengineered-to-switch-off-neurons&amp;title=Channel%20Makeover%20Bioengineered%20to%20Switch%20Off%20Neurons" rel="external noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="external-disclaimer" aria-label="Share this page on LinkedIn"><span class="linkedin-share"><i class="fa-brands fa-linkedin-in"></i></span></a>
<a href="mailto:?subject=I%20Saw%20This%20on%20www.nimh.nih.gov%20--%20Channel%20Makeover%20Bioengineered%20to%20Switch%20Off%20Neurons&amp;body=https://www.nimh.nih.gov%2Fnews%2Fscience-updates%2F2014%2Fchannel-makeover-bioengineered-to-switch-off-neurons" aria-label="Share this page by email"><span class="email-share"><i class="fas fa-envelope"></i></span></a>
<button class="print_icon" aria-label="Open print helper modal"><i class="fas fa-print"></i></button>
</div>
</div>
</section>
<div class="row">
<div class="flex_main_container col-md-12">
<div class="visible-xs sidebar-menu-helper">
<p class="leftnav_menu_toggle sb-toggle-left">Menu <i class="fas fa-long-arrow-alt-right"
aria-hidden="true"></i></p>
</div>
<aside class="layout-sidebar-first" role="complementary">
<section class="navblock areanav_child">
<h2 class="navblock__header">Contact(s)</h2>
<p class="navblock__text"><span class="vcard"><span
class="fn org">Jules Asher</span><br><span class="org"><abbr
title="National Institute of Mental Health">NIMH</abbr> Press Office</span><br><span
class="tel">301-443-4536</span><br><a
href="mailto:NIMHpress@nih.gov">NIMHpress@nih.gov</a></span></p>
<br>
<p><a href="/news/press-resources">Press Resources</a></p>
</section>
<section class="navblock areanav_child">
<h2 class="navblock__header">More Science Updates about</h2>
<ul class="navblock__list">
<li class="navblock__list__item link-container"><a href="/news/science-updates/basic-research"
class="single-link">Basic Research</a></li>
</ul>
</section>
</aside>
<div id="main_content" class="areanav-true sidebar-false">
<main id="main-content">
<article id="main_content_inner">
<div id="block-nimhtheme-local-tasks"></div>
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><style>
.row.feature-box{
background: #F0F8FF;
padding: 15px 5px 5px 5px;
border: 1px solid #e7ecff;
}
</style><div class="row feature-box m-0 mb-3"><div class="col-xl-12"><h5 class="mt-2 mb-0"><i class="fa-regular fa-box-archive"></i> &nbsp;Archived Content</h5><p><small>The National Institute of Mental Health archives materials that are over 4 years old and no longer being updated. The content on this page is provided for historical reference purposes only and may not reflect current knowledge or information.</small></p></div></div></div>
<div class="titleblock">
<h1 class="titleblock__title" id="title">Channel Makeover Bioengineered to Switch Off Neurons</h1>
</div>
<p id="subtitle">Leaps Orders of Magnitude Beyond Existing Tools NIH Study</p>
<p class="pagestamp_news_wrap">
<time class="pagestamp_news_time" datetime="2014-04-24">April 24, 2014</time>
• <span class="pagestamp_news_type">Press Release</span></p>
<html><body><p>Scientists have bioengineered, in neurons cultured from rats, an enhancement to a cutting edge technology that provides instant control over brain circuit activity with a flash of light. The research funded by the National Institutes of Health adds the same level of control over turning neurons off that, until now, had been limited to turning them on.</p><p>“What had been working through a weak pump can now work through a highly efficient channel with orders of magnitude greater sensitivity for impact on cell function,” explained Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D., of Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.</p><p>It is like going from a squirt to a gushing hose.</p><p>Deisseroth and colleagues report on what is being hailed as a marvel of genetic engineering in the April 25, 2014 issue of the journal Science.</p><p>“This latest discovery by the Deisseroth team is the type of neurotechnology envisioned by President Obama when he launched the BRAIN Initiative a year ago,” said Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director of the National Institute of Mental Health, a funder of the study. “It creates a powerful tool that allows neuroscientists to apply a brake in any specific circuit with millisecond precision, beyond the power of any existing technology. This will be vital for understanding brain circuits involved in behavior, thinking, and emotion.”</p><p>Deisseroths team had pioneered the use of light pulses to control brain circuitry in animals genetically engineered to be light-responsive <a href="/news/science-updates/2007/scientists-switch-neurons-on-and-off-using-light" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="a158efd1-4e06-44c8-a90f-90cff40dbfa2" data-entity-substitution="canonical">optogenetics</a>. Genes that allow the sun to control light-sensitive primitive organisms like algae, melded with genes that make fluorescent marker proteins, are fused with a deactivated virus that delivers them to specific types of neurons which they become part of allowing pulses of light to similarly commandeer brain cells.</p><p>When a neuron fires depends on the balance of ions flowing across the cell membrane, so being able to experimentally control this cellular machinery is critical for understanding how the brain works. But until now, the optogenetic tools for turning off neurons have been much less powerful than for turning them on a weak inhibitory pump, moving only one ion per photon of light, versus an efficient excitatory channel.</p><p>Stanford bioengineers and their colleagues recently <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=crystal+structure+of+the+channelrhodopsin+light-gated+cation+channel" rel="external">discovered the crystal structure&nbsp;<i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon"></i></a> of channelrhodopsin, the protein borrowed from algae to achieve optogenetic control of neurons. To transform this excitatory channel into an effective inhibitory channel, the team systematically introduced mutations into the channels gene, gradually reshaping its structure through molecular engineering into one with optimal inhibitory properties. To become an effective inhibitory channel, its central pore needed to be lined with positive instead of negatively charged amino acids to be converted from a cation (positive ion)-conducting into an anion (negative ion) -conducting channel.</p><p>It turns out that there are economies of scale afforded by the transformed channel the more the inhibition, the less light required to achieve the desired biological effect. This raises possible future therapeutic applications, such as in the management of pain, said Deisseroth.</p><p>The study was also funded, in part, by the NIHs National Institute on Drug Abuse.</p><article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-default">
<span class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/images/news-items/excitatory_cellular_channel.png" width="500" height="647" alt="excitatory cellular channel">
</span>
</article>
<p><br><em>Researchers transformed an excitatory cellular channel borrowed from algae (above left) into a powerful inhibitory channel (lower right) that allows for precise experimental turning-off of neurons.</em><br><em>Source: Andre Berndt, Ph.D., Soo Yeun Lee, Ph.D., Charu Ramakrishnan, and Karl Deisseroth, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford University</em></p><h2>Reference</h2><p><a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22266941" rel="external">Crystal structure of the channelrhodopsin light-gated cation channel.&nbsp;<i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon"></i></a> Kato HE, Zhang F, Yizhar O, Ramakrishnan C, Nishizawa T, Hirata K, Ito J, Aita Y, Tsukazaki T, Hayashi S, Hegemann P, Maturana AD, Ishitani R, Deisseroth K, Nureki O. Nature. 2012 Jan 22;482(7385):369-74. doi: 10.1038/nature10870 PMID: 22266941</p><p>Berndt A, Lee SY, Ramakrishnan C, Deisseroth K. Structure-guided transformation of channelrhodopsin into a light-activated chloride channel. Science, April 25, 2014.</p><h2>Grants</h2><p><a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8587456" rel="external">MH075957&nbsp;<i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon"></i></a>, <a href="https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/8532865" rel="external">DA020794&nbsp;<i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon"></i></a></p></body>
</html>
<div class="prtag">###</div>
<html><body><p><strong>About the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH):</strong> The mission of the
<abbr title="National Institute of Mental Health">NIMH
</abbr>&nbsp;is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit the <a href="/">NIMH website</a>.
</p>
</body>
</html>
<html><body><p><strong>About the National Institutes of Health (NIH)</strong>: NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about <abbr title="National Institutes of Health">NIH</abbr>&nbsp;and its programs, visit the <a href="https://www.nih.gov" rel="external">NIH website&nbsp;<i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon"></i></a>.</p>
<p><em>NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health<sup>®<br></sup></em></p>
</body>
</html>
</article>
</main>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<footer id="footer-contact">
<div class="footer-container container">
<div>
<div id="block-contactusfooter" class="block block-block-content block-block-contentc7a9e7bc-56ff-41ac-8678-60f3a9a54eeb">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>NIMH Information Resource Center</h2><div><span class="small">Available in English and español</span></div><div class="row"><div class="col-xl-6 col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-12"><p class="phone"><em><i class="fas fa-phone" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em> <strong>Phone:&nbsp;</strong> <a href="tel:1-866-615-6464">1-866-615-6464</a>&nbsp;<br><em><i class="far fa-comments" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em> <strong>Live Online Chat:&nbsp;</strong> <a href="https://infocenter.nimh.nih.gov">Talk to a representative</a>&nbsp;<br><em><i class="far fa-envelope" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em> <strong>Email:&nbsp;</strong> <a href="mailto:nimhinfo@nih.gov">nimhinfo@nih.gov</a>&nbsp;<br><em><i class="far fa-clock" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em><strong>Hours:</strong> 8:30 a.m. 5 p.m. ET, M-F</p></div><div class="col-xl-6 col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6 col-xs-12"><p><strong>Mail:&nbsp;</strong> National Institute of Mental Health&nbsp;<br>Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications&nbsp;<br>6001 Executive Boulevard, MSC 9663&nbsp;<br>Bethesda, MD 20892-9663</p></div></div></div>
</div>
<div id="block-nimhtheme-linkdisclaimer" class="block block-block-content block-block-content43e6eaa7-a06a-4a06-9eff-b06d3dded90d">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div id="footer-disclaimer"><h2>Disclaimer</h2><p>We link to external websites for informational purposes only, but we do not endorse or guarantee their accuracy. Once you leave our site, you will be subject to the new websites privacy policy. Read NIMHs <a href="/site-info/policies#part_2717"><u>full external linking policy</u></a> for more information.</p></div></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
<footer id="footer-social">
<div class="footer-container container">
<div>
<div id="block-followusfooter" class="block block-block-content block-block-contentcafb1a66-d0fb-4772-b5c2-5c7d0773f849">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="row"><div class="col-lg-8 col-md-7 col-sm-12 followus"><h3>Follow Us</h3><p><a class="external-disclaimer" href="https://www.instagram.com/nimhgov/" title="NIMH Instagram" rel="external"><span class="hidden">Instagram</span><em><i class="fab fa-instagram" style="background:#005395;" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em></a> <a class="external-disclaimer" href="https://www.facebook.com/nimhgov" title="NIMH Facebook" rel="external"><span class="hidden">Facebook</span><em><i class="fab fa-facebook-f" style="background:#005395;" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em></a> <a class="external-disclaimer" href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/national-institute-of-mental-health-nimh" title="NIMH LinkedIn" rel="external"><span class="hidden">Linkedin</span><em><i class="fab fa-linkedin-in" style="background:#005395;" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em></a><a class="external-disclaimer" href="https://twitter.com/nimhgov" title="NIMH Twitter" rel="external"><span class="hidden">Twitter</span><em><i class="fab fa-x-twitter" style="background:#005395;" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em></a> <a class="external-disclaimer" href="https://www.youtube.com/nimhgov" title="NIMH YouTube" rel="external"><span class="hidden">YouTube</span><em><i class="fab fa-youtube" style="background:#005395;" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em></a><a href="/news/email-updates" title="NIMH Newsletters" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="72c6d25b-a844-48b0-be68-5c85cf5df771" data-entity-substitution="canonical">&nbsp;<em><i class="far fa-file-alt" style="background:#005395;" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em></a><a href="/news/web-channels" title="NIMH News Feeds" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="26a1cafd-738b-443d-920f-c491f872d6d9" data-entity-substitution="canonical">&nbsp;<em><i class="fas fa-rss" style="background:#005395;" aria-hidden="true">&nbsp;</i></em></a></p></div><div class="col-lg-4 col-md-5 col-sm-12"><h3 class="mb-0">Subscribe to NIMH Email Updates</h3><form class="subscribe-in-banner" accept-charset="UTF-8" action="https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNIMH/subscribers/qualify" method="get" name="Subscribe"><p><label><span class="hidden">Type email address...</span> <input class="subscribe_box" aria-label="Type email address..." name="email" placeholder="Type email address..." size="30" type="text"> </label><input type="submit" value="Subscribe"> &nbsp;</p></form></div></div><style>
.followus p a {
margin: .1rem;
}
.followus i.fab:hover, .followus i.far:hover, .followus i.fas:hover{
background-color: #00335e !important;
}
</style></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
<footer id="footer-siteInfo">
<div class="footer-container container">
<div>
<div id="block-siteinfofooter" class="block block-block-content block-block-content7adf2027-35bd-4389-9dd4-330dcc3d17c4">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="row" id="block-footer"><div class="col-xl-4 col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-12"><h5>NIMH Resources</h5><p><a href="/health/topics" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f7e048e4-f68f-4b7f-afb8-6fb95336f6b3" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Health Topics</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="/health/publications" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3a6321c0-9c96-45b6-8d5c-5f4eab17632b" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Brochures and Fact Sheets</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="/site-info/contact-nimh" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="3b82dd34-6040-4763-a9ff-db0c3d5b6a38" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Contact Us</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="/health/topics/espanol" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="d6df42f3-6876-496e-918c-cc34cc7681f7" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Información en español</a></p></div><div class="col-xl-4 col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-12"><h5>Policies and Notices</h5><p><a href="/site-info/privacy-policy" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="f9084068-f15e-4322-b69b-eb250f301bf4" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Privacy Policy</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="/site-info/policies" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="e7a9f3b0-b458-4dcd-84aa-2c373b217d3f" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Website Policies</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="http://www.nih.gov/icd/od/foia/index.htm" rel="external">FOIA <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i></a>&nbsp;<br><a href="/site-info/accessibility" data-entity-type="node" data-entity-uuid="35acaa5a-b4a3-4061-b0b9-018d0e02b011" data-entity-substitution="canonical">Accessibility</a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" rel="external">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></p></div><div class="col-xl-4 col-lg-4 col-md-4 col-sm-4 col-xs-12"><h5>Federal Resources</h5><p><a href="http://www.nih.gov/" rel="external">National Institutes of Health (NIH) <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i></a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://www.nih.gov/virtual-tour/" rel="external">NIH Virtual Tour <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i></a>&nbsp;<br><a href="https://www.hhs.gov" rel="external">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i></a>&nbsp;<br><a href="http://www.usa.gov/" rel="external">USA.gov <i class="fa-solid fa-arrow-up-right-from-square ext-link-icon" aria-hidden="true"></i></a></p></div></div><p class="institute_boilerplate">The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is part of NIH, a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.</p></div>
</div>
<div id="block-backtotop" class="block block-block-content block-block-content2fd64a46-6d78-4c08-8260-bf3aad9aa46d">
<div class="field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p class="hidden-sm hidden-xs" id="backtotop"><a href="#skipnav"><span class="bt-img">&nbsp;</span><span>Top</span></a>
</p></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</footer>
</div>
</div>
<script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_Ar12EQc0ItFgOVOiA7ch7vfF-NWs4pUi1kGBcM1-7rw.js?scope=footer&amp;delta=0&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nimhtheme&amp;include=eJzLy8zNKMlIzU3VT8vPK0ksTy3Oz02NN9PJg4un5-QnJeboFicXZRaUFAMA0TwS7A"></script>
<script src="//kit.fontawesome.com/1ea3372bd6.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
<script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_uIBU-5fuvQZZvnNDo5BMVNRXUN7VE0SzzMMTrzW1miA.js?scope=footer&amp;delta=2&amp;language=en&amp;theme=nimhtheme&amp;include=eJzLy8zNKMlIzU3VT8vPK0ksTy3Oz02NN9PJg4un5-QnJeboFicXZRaUFAMA0TwS7A"></script>
</body>
</html>