Optocapacitance: physical basis and its application

The observation that membrane capacitance increases with temperature has led to the development of new methods of neuronal stimulation using light. The optocapacitive effect refers to a light-induced change in capacitance produced by the heating of the membrane through a photothermal effect. This change in capacitance manifests as a current, named optocapacitive current that depolarizes cells and therefore can be used to stimulate excitable tissues. Here, we discuss how optocapacitance arises from basic membrane properties, the characteristics of the optocapacitive current, its use for neuronal stimulation, and the challenges for its application in vivo.

Automated summary

The observation of an increase in membrane capacitance with temperature has led to the development of new methods for neuronal stimulation using light. The optocapacitive effect refers to the change in capacitance induced by the heating of the membrane through light, producing an optocapacitive current that depolarizes cells and can be used for stimulating excitable tissues. In this article, we discuss the underlying membrane properties of optocapacitance, the characteristics of the optocapacitive current, its applications in neuronal stimulation, and the challenges for its in vivo use.