1. A method of optically stimulating a neural tissue of a living subject, comprising the steps of: (a) introducing at least one of a chromophore and an optical agent to a target neural tissue; (b) determining a pulse duration (T p ) that is short enough to minimize heat diffusion based on a thermal diffusion time (T d ) for the target neural tissue, T p <T d ; (c) generating at least one beam of radiation comprising a plurality of pulses with the pulse duration; (d) delivering the generated at least one beam of radiation to the target neural tissue; and (e) controlling a thermal gradient at the target neural tissue to stimulate the target neural tissue, including selecting a wavelength that has minimal absorption in the target neural tissue and optimal absorption in the at least one of a chromophore and an optical agent; selecting a radiant exposure of the at least one beam of radiation based on a functional relationship between the thermal gradient and a radiant exposure; and selecting the at least one of a chromophore and an optical agent to have predetermined light absorption properties.