In this presentation, faculty cover some of the major caveats to optogenetics experiments, at the conceptual and technical level. Specifically: - Stephan Lammel discusses the importance of careful methodological considerations for interpreting the results of optogenetic experiments. - Karel Svoboda highlights some of the many potential unexpected effects of optogenetics perturbation in the context of neural circuit dynamics and behavior. - David Kupferschmidt shares how diverse forms of synaptic plasticity and complex neurochemistry can complicate our ability to infer direct “causation” from optogenetics experiments. After watching this presentation, you should be able to: - Understand and control for potential confounds of optogenetics manipulations that involve non-cell-type-specific expression of opsins, toxicity, tissue heating, and scattered light delivery. - Understand how to turn potential unexpected effects of optogenetics manipulation to your advantage using neurophysiological characterization of the system response optogenetics perturbation. - Understand and minimize the potential confounds of synaptic plasticity and complex neurochemistry in the interpretation of optogenetics experiments.