The electromechanical function of the heart involves complex, coordinated activity over time
and space. Life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias arise from asynchrony in these space–time …

Zebrafish are a relevant and useful vertebrate model species to study normal-and patho-
physiology, including that of the heart, due to conservation of protein-coding genes, organ …

Reliance on low tissue penetrating UV or visible light limits clinical applicability of
phototherapy, necessitating use of deep tissue penetrating near-infrared (NIR) to visible light …

The development of new approaches to control cardiac arrhythmias requires a deep
understanding of spiral wave dynamics. Optogenetics offers new possibilities for this …

Optogenetic defibrillation of hearts expressing light-sensitive cation channels (eg, ChR2)
has been proposed as an alternative to conventional electrotherapy. Past modeling work …

Optogenetic control of the heart is an emergent technology that offers unparalleled spatio-
temporal control of cardiac dynamics via light-sensitive ion pumps and channels (opsins) …

Cardiac optogenetics is an emergent research area involving the delivery of light-sensitive
proteins (opsins) to excitable heart tissue to enable optical modulation of cardiac electrical …

Rotating spiral waves in the heart are associated with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias
such as ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. These arrhythmias are treated by a process …

Key points Although optogenetics has clearly demonstrated the feasibility of cardiac
manipulation, current optical stimulation strategies lack the capability to react acutely to …

Our current understanding of cardiac excitation and its coupling to contraction is largely
based on ex vivo studies utilising fluorescent organic dyes to assess cardiac action …