Scientists Win Medicine Nobel for Light-Controlled Brain Cells
· World · Indian Express, CBS News
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Peter Hegemann, Georg Nagel, and Karl Deisseroth for discoveries concerning light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. Announced in New Delhi, the breakthrough enables researchers to use specific wavelengths of light to control nerve cells in the brain. The technique allows scientists to study and influence how neural circuits shape memories, feelings, and behavior. Previous experiments using the method successfully prompted mice to move their whiskers and induced artificial fear memories in safe environments. The research transforms neuroscience from passive observation into active modulation of brain activity.
Why it matters
Optogenetics provides researchers with unprecedented precision to map neural circuits, opening new pathways for treating neurological and psychiatric disorders.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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