Neuroscientists from Brown University show that faint sensations can be made more vivid by triggering…
Browsing: Optogenetics
Optogenetics is an innovative technique in neuroscience that uses light to control cells within living tissue, typically neurons, that have been genetically modified to express light-sensitive ion channels. Developed in the early 2000s, this method involves the use of opsins, which are light-sensitive proteins originally derived from algae and bacteria. By introducing genes encoding these opsins into specific neurons in the brain, scientists can precisely control the activity of these neurons by shining light of specific wavelengths, typically using fiber optics or LEDs. This enables researchers to activate or inhibit neurons with unprecedented precision, helping to unravel the complex functions of various brain regions and the neural circuits that underlie behavior. Optogenetics has significantly advanced our understanding of how specific brain functions contribute to behaviors, neurological disorders, and psychiatric conditions, offering potential pathways for developing new therapies.
In a newly published study, MIT neuroscientists show that they can control muscle movement by…
In a new study, neuroscientists plant false memories in the brains of mice, showing that…
A team of researchers from MIT and the Broad Institute have developed new technology based…
A team of researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is combining computer-generated holography and…
The addition of a light-sensitive protein to a small part of a rat’s brain allowed…
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and MIT have genetically engineered muscle cells to flex…
By using optogenetics, a new study from a team of scientists is one of the…
Scientists at the University of St. Andrews were awarded a £5.6m grant to work on…
Lost memories may be a thing of the past as neuroscientists conduct research on mice…
In order to search for better cures for neurological and psychiatric diseases, researchers have had…