Navigation Links
MIT: Pulsing light silences overactive neurons

o shut down overactive neurons. This new research opens up the possibility of an optical implant that could do the same thing, using light instead of electricity. The Media Lab neuroengineering group plans to start studying such devices in transgenic mice this year.

The group also plans to use the new method to study neural circuits. Last year, Boyden devised a technique to stimulate neurons by shining blue light on them, so with blue and yellow light the researchers can now exert exquisite control over the stimulation and inhibition of individual neurons.

Learning more about the neural circuits involved in epilepsy could help scientists develop devices that can predict when a seizure is about to occur, allowing treatment (either shock or light) to be administered only when necessary, Boyden said.

The technique also offers a way to study other brain diseases, as well as normal brain circuitry, offering insight into which brain regions and neurons contribute to specific behaviors or pathological states, Boyden said.

The halorhodopsin gene was originally discovered in the 1980s, but Boyden didn't think its full potential had been explored. The protein expressed by the gene turned out to have exactly the right characteristics to make it useful in neuron inhibition.

"Often if you are patient and think carefully about what you want to do, you can find a molecule that is very close to what you want, and with a little bit of luck it will turn out to work," Boyden said.

The halorhodopsin work is one of the first projects from the Media Lab Neuroengineering and Neuromedia Group, which was formed about six months ago to enhance the Media Lab's study of the brain-body relationship.

"The Media Lab has always been interested in studying the interface between people and the world," Boyden said, "but now people are getting interested in the interface between bodies and brains in the world."


'"/>

Source:Massachusetts Institute of Technology


Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. Researchers discover way to make cells in the eye sensitive to light
2. Recent breakthroughs in common adult leukemia highlighted in New England Journal of Medicine
3. Bacteria collection sheds light on urinary tract infections
4. Sea skate experiment sheds light on human cell transport
5. X-Ray Beams And Fruit Fly Flight Simulator Aid Scientists View Of Muscle Power
6. McGill researchers shed light on formation of carcinogen in food
7. Scientists discover how plants disarm the toxic effects of excessive sunlight
8. Medical molecules designed to respond to visible light that can penetrate tissue
9. Genetic defects give the immune system the green light to attack the pancreas
10. Researchers find gene that may be at root of potato blight
11. Remote control flies? Fly behavior controlled by laser light

Post Your Comments:
(Date:11/24/2009)...ay named 12 new grant recipients for 2009. The awa...ork across a broad spectrum of lupus research. All...potential to drive scientific discovery to ultimat...f systemic lupus. , The 2009 grants go to both n...tion and include interdisciplinary and highly prom...
(Date:11/24/2009)...e class of ring-shaped protein motors has been unc...ational Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) using a state-of...dvanced Light Source (ALS). These protein motors p...on, and are vital to the survival of all biologica... human papillomavirus, which has been linked to ce...
(Date:11/24/2009)...r of debate. A high-profile study a few years ago ... carbon from trees and leaves, evidence for a very...osystems. , But new research from the University.... Algae provide a much richer diet for fish and ot...this week in the Proceedings of the National Acad...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Lupus Research Institute announces 2009 novel research grants 2Lupus Research Institute announces 2009 novel research grants 3Atomic-level snapshot catches protein motor in action 2Atomic-level snapshot catches protein motor in action 3Atomic-level snapshot catches protein motor in action 4Fish food fight: Fish don't eat trees after all, says new study 2Fish food fight: Fish don't eat trees after all, says new study 3Lexicon Announces Proposed Offering of 27 500 000 Shares of Common Stock 14390 1Lexicon Announces Proposed Offering of 27 500 000 Shares of Common Stock 14390 2Lexicon Announces Proposed Offering of 27 500 000 Shares of Common Stock 14390 3Subsidiary of Nova Biomedical Completes Acquisition of Assets of CCS Medicals Subsidiary Sanvita Inc 5309 1Subsidiary of Nova Biomedical Completes Acquisition of Assets of CCS Medicals Subsidiary Sanvita Inc 5309 2Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Adds Acclaimed Cancer Research Pioneer Robert A Weinberg Ph D to Its Scientific Advisory Board 5305 1Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Adds Acclaimed Cancer Research Pioneer Robert A Weinberg Ph D to Its Scientific Advisory Board 5305 2Cornerstone Pharmaceuticals Adds Acclaimed Cancer Research Pioneer Robert A Weinberg Ph D to Its Scientific Advisory Board 5305 3
...th a photograph that embodies the unexpected and ...rsity of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student Jenna ...ngineering Visualization Challenge, sponsored by t...e. , The image, "Polymazing," appears in the Sept...omewhat amazing, considering the subject of her ph...
...HILADELPHIA - Biophysicists at the University of P...d long-established data on cholesterol,s role in t...interaction between cholesterol and neurotransmitt...ehavior for the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, ...lzheimer,s disease, Parkinson,s disease, schizophr...
...SHINGTON Members of the public can send their nam...st mission dedicated to understanding the effects ...bility on our climate. , The "Send Your Name Arou...rt in the science mission and place their names in...icipants can submit their information, is located ...
Other Biology News:UW science photo takes second in national contest 2Penn biophysicists create new model for protein-cholesterol interactions in brain and muscle tissue 2Penn biophysicists create new model for protein-cholesterol interactions in brain and muscle tissue 3Send your name around the Earth on NASA'S Glory mission 2
(Date:11/24/2009)..., SANMATEO,Calif.,Nov.24/PRNewswire-FirstCall/--...mpanyfocusedondevelopingandcommercializingnovelpai...nno,PresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficer,isscheduledt...rence,tobeheldDecember1-2,2009atTheNewYorkPalaceHo...iglieri,ChiefFinancialOfficer,willbeavailabletores...
(Date:11/24/2009)..., TSXVENTURE:HTL , TORONTO,Nov.24/PRNewswir...yCalottoCapitalInc.,aleadingproviderofadvancedlase...tilityclinicmarkets,todayreportedoperationalandfin...09. , ,Q32009Highlights,-Revenuewas$1.46millionc...was66.3percentcomparedwith66.1percentinQ3,2008,-Ne...
(Date:11/24/2009)... Program Connects Customers w...les Collected with DNA Genotek Products , ...009 -- DNA Genotek , a leading provider of produc... and preparation, today announced its new global p...ancements for DNA Genotek,s partner community and ...
(Date:11/23/2009)...antum computing promises ultra-fast communication,...sitive information. But trying to use quantum stat...cate business. Now two physicists have shown, math... in quantum communication, while keeping the infor...nt issue of Physical Review Letters and highligh...
Breaking Biology Technology:NeurogesX to Present at Piper Jaffray Health Care Conference 2NeurogesX to Present at Piper Jaffray Health Care Conference 3Hamilton Thorne announces third quarter results 2Hamilton Thorne announces third quarter results 3Hamilton Thorne announces third quarter results 4Hamilton Thorne announces third quarter results 5Hamilton Thorne announces third quarter results 6Hamilton Thorne announces third quarter results 7DNA Genotek Launches Global Partner Program 2DNA Genotek Launches Global Partner Program 3
...LOS ANGELES, Aug. 31 Signalife, Inc. (Amex:,SGN),...ecutive, has release,the following corporate updat... month: 1. Dr. Harmison has already "cleaned hous...ere producing no revenue whatsoever and no hope of...view. That was done immediately by Dr. Harmis...
...herapeutics, Inc.,announced today that it has file...curities and Exchange Commission for a proposed in...k. All of the shares in the proposed,offering will...f the offering will be Morgan Stanley & Co.,Incorp... and CIBC World,Markets Corp., Jefferies & Company...
...Allergy Testing in Managing Chronic ...0 Phadia US Inc. announced today,that The Nationa...has,issued an update on selected topics in the Gui.... Information in the guidelines reported that alle...ctors in the development,persistence and potential...
Other Biology Technology:Signalife Provides Corporate Update 2Signalife Provides Corporate Update 3ARYx Therapeutics, Inc. Files Registration Statement for Initial Public Offering 2Updated NIH Guidelines Offer Valuable Information on Asthma Diagnosis and Management 2
...e/PAD: ZMD.283. Immunogen: Fusion protein derived... ASIP/PAR-3 (atypical PKC isotype-specific interac...gen is not related to the protease-activated-recep...us (positive controls: Caco-2 MDCK A6 cell lysates...
Rabbit Anti-Human MTHFD1 Polyclonal Antibody, Unconjugated from Atlas Antibodies
BioPrime Array CGH Genomic Labeling Module from Invitrogen
GIBCO F-12 Nutrient Mixture (Ham) powder from Invitrogen
Biology Products: