May 20, 2011

Ed Boyden on optogenetics and neural prosthetics [TED]


Neuroscientist Ed Boyden shows how, by inserting genes for light-sensitive proteins into brain cells, he can selectively activate or de-activate specific neurons with fiber-optic implants. With this unprecedented level of control, he's managed to cure mice of analogs of PTSD and certain forms of blindness. And on the horizon: neural prosthetics.

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for sharing this TED presentation, George. Ed Boyden has done a lot of great work in the field of neurobiology and his co-invention of optogenetics holds tremendous promise. This work has huge potential for expanding our understanding of the brain and for finding ways to both heal and augment it.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.