A neural probe for light stimulation of a tissue is provided. The probe includes a base that has light supplying circuitry, and one or more elongated microsized shanks extending from the base. Each shank has a longitudinal axis and includes one or more waveguides extending along the shank's length, with the waveguides being optically connected to the light supplying circuitry. In addition, each of the waveguides is optically connected to a diffraction grating coupler that emits a light beam from the shank when light passes from the base through the waveguide and to the diffraction grating coupler. The emitted light beam has a propagation direction at a set angle relative to an axis that is substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the shank. A method for stimulating a tissue using the neural probe is also provided.