Neuropixels Opto

High-resolution extracellular electrophysiology is the gold standard for recording spikes from distributed neural populations, and is especially powerful when combined with optogenetics for manipulation of specific cell types with high temporal resolution. In 2025, these approaches have been combined into prototype Neuropixels Opto probes, which combine electronic and photonic circuits. These devices pack 960 electrical recording sites and two sets of 14 light emitters onto a 70 μm wide, 1 cm long shank, allowing spatially addressable optogenetic stimulation with blue and red light. In mouse cortex, Neuropixels Opto probes delivered high-quality recordings together with spatially addressable optogenetics, differentially activating or silencing neurons at distinct cortical depths. In mouse striatum and other deep structures, Neuropixels Opto probes delivered efficient optotagging, facilitating the identification of two cell types in parallel. Neuropixels Opto probes represent an unprecedented tool for recording, identifying, and manipulating neuronal populations.

Neuropixels Opto probes are under development by a team funded by Wellcome Trust, Allen Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NTNU, the NIH BRAIN initiative, and other funders. The team is led by Josh Siegle at the Allen Institute for Brain Science and Matteo Carandini at UCL. The probe is expected to be available to the community in 2028.