About Rhodopsin Relay

Fire blue and yellow light pulses to excite and silence neurons in this free online optogenetics game about channelrhodopsin, halorhodopsin and millisecond neural control.

Rhodopsin Relay is a free online optogenetics game where you pilot a fiber-optic implant inside a living mouse brain. Blue 470nm pulses open channelrhodopsin to fire relay neurons and yellow 590nm pulses drive halorhodopsin to silence seizing circuits, all against the clock of a traveling action potential.

Every mechanic maps to real neuroscience. ChR2 is a light-gated cation channel from algae that opens within a millisecond of blue illumination and depolarizes the cell, while NpHR is a yellow-gated chloride pump that hyperpolarizes and silences it. Your timed blue taps mimic synaptic transmission down an excitatory chain, the shrinking ring echoes millisecond spike timing and penalized shots at green interneurons demonstrate why exciting the brain's GABAergic brakes collapses a circuit.

Optogenetics revolutionized biology after Karl Deisseroth's lab showed neurons could be switched with light in 2005. Because opsin genes can be targeted to specific cell types and light acts in milliseconds, researchers gained causal control that electrodes never offered - exciting and inhibiting distinct populations to dissect circuits behind movement, memory, epilepsy, Parkinson's and depression. Silencing seizure foci in animal models hints at future light-based therapies, and the technique now powers retinal implants restoring partial vision to blind patients.

Key Science Concepts

• Channelrhodopsin-2 photoactivation at 470nm
• Halorhodopsin inhibition at 590nm
• Action potential propagation and synaptic delay
• Excitation-inhibition balance and GABAergic interneurons
• Spectral and cell-type specificity versus electrodes
• Hypersynchronous seizure activity

What You'll Learn

• Distinguish excitatory and inhibitory optogenetic tools
• Explain why spectral specificity prevents cross-talk
• Relate millisecond light timing to spike propagation
• Compare optogenetic precision with electrode stimulation

Grade Level: High School, College

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How to play

1. Track the Spike An action potential rides the relay chain. When it lands on a neuron, a timing ring starts shrinking.
2. Fire Blue 470nm Blue light opens ChR2. Tap the ringed neuron as the ring reaches its edge - tighter timing scores more.
3. Flip to Yellow 590nm Press Space, keys 1 and 2 or the HUD spectrum buttons to switch between excite and inhibit light.
4. Silence Seizures Red seizing clusters drain Brain Stability. Inhibit them with yellow before their countdown empties.
5. Respect the Brakes Green interneurons are GABAergic brakes. Blue light there silences your relay - leave them alone.
6. Clear the Maze Chain every relay to guide the mouse to cheese. Astrocytes heal stability; avoid the drifting electrode.

Frequently asked questions

Is Rhodopsin Relay free to play?

Yes. Rhodopsin Relay is completely free to play in your browser. There is no download, install or account needed.

What grade level is Rhodopsin Relay for?

Rhodopsin Relay is designed for High School, College students and works well as a classroom activity or homework.

Does Rhodopsin Relay work on phones and tablets?

Yes. Rhodopsin Relay runs in any modern browser on desktop computers, Chromebooks, tablets and phones in landscape mode.

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