Throughout the summer, we were able to take on the project to record single neurons in the pons and identify units that received direct input from CRH+ neurons in the dorsomedial medulla. To do this, CRH-Cre mice were injected with ChR2. We developed a dual optical and electrical probe, called an optrode. The optrode allows us to record combined optogenetics and electrophysiological components simultaneously. The device consists of 7 pairs of twisted nichrome electrodes arranged in a ring around an optical fiber. The tips of these seven electrodes are then plated with 25% gold solution and placed in the dorsomedial medulla. During surgery for the implantation of the probe into the mouse brain, an EEG electrode was screwed in the hippocampus and an EMG wire placed in the neck muscles. Using this, we were able to successfully use the optrode to record a number of simultaneous electrophysiological signals.