An elegant way to precisely target 👉🏻optogenetic probes👈🏻👉🏻 to individual neurons is to use single-cell 👉🏻electroporation42,44 (Fig. 3). This involves using 👉🏻2-photon microscopy👈🏻 to target a plasmid-filled patch pipette to 👉🏻individual neurons in vivo and using 👉🏻electrical pulses33,34 to deliver the 👉🏻plasmid to the cell 👈🏻👉🏻under visual control.👉🏻 Neurons can be targeted this way based on their somatodendritic morphology👉🏻 (using ‘shadowimaging’33), 👉🏻their genetic identity👉🏻 (using GFP expression as a marker) 👉🏻or their functional properties (such as tuned responses to sensory stimuli) for subsequent 👉🏻optogenetic activation34.👈🏻