# Key Points from #hplusroadmap IRC Discussion

• Researchers discussed advanced neural manipulation technologies, including light-activated gene function in mammalian cells, infrared neural stimulation, and light-gated glutamate receptors, representing significant progress toward non-invasive targeted control of neural activity.

• Microfluidic technology was a major focus, with participants sharing low-cost rapid prototyping methods using ferric chloride etching and Sharpie masks for creating electrowetting systems, alongside a bibliography of electrowetting papers and discussion of droplet actuation using surface acoustic waves.

• The group examined synaptic plasticity mechanisms, particularly AMPA receptor cycling, noting the significant difference between synaptic receptors (requiring at least 16 hours for complete exchange) and more rapidly cycling extrasynaptic receptors.

• A study on prefrontal norepinephrine was shared, exploring how this neurotransmitter determines attribution of high motivational salience, providing insights into fundamental motivation mechanisms in the brain.

• Participants discussed various open-source physics simulation tools (ODE, OGRE, OPAL, PyODE, OpenPaneKit) versus closed-source alternatives, highlighting the limitations of non-open-source software for modification and extension in research contexts.

• A new energy-efficient 167-processor chip capable of half-a-trillion operations per second while using less than 7 watts was discussed, though concerns were raised about potential data bus access bottlenecks.

• Advanced neural imaging techniques were shared, including "Brainbow" technology for visualizing neural structures in vivid colors and methods for tagging NMDA channel subunits with green fluorescent protein to track receptor expression.