Those
mad neuroscientists, they'll
never learn, but maybe in the end we'll all be better off for it.
Wired has put together an extremely intriguing write-up of the short history of optogenetics -- featuring a German pond scum researcher, a Nobel Prize winner, and rat brains controlled by beams of light. Optogenetics is a relatively new technique for communicating with the brain, which involves the implantation of particular light-sensitive genes into animals with the purpose of repairing neurological ailments through light therapy (no, not
that kind). By hooking up fiber-optic cables to the affected area of the brain, researchers have been able to completely restore movement in mice with Parkinson's disease and their current efforts revolve around developing a less invasive method that doesn't go deeper than the outer surface of the brain. Most revolutionary of all, perhaps, is the eventual possibility for two-way traffic (i.e. a machine being able to both send
and receive information from the brain), which brings all those
cyborg dreams of ours closer to becoming a reality than ever before. Hit up the read link for the full dish.
Filed under: Science
Optogenetics hold the key to future brain disease cures, still creep us out originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Brain, brain activity, brain disease, brain function, BrainActivity, BrainDisease, BrainFunction, fiber optic, FiberOptic, Genetics, Health, Medicine, Mind, mind control, MindControl, neural, neural cells, NeuralCells, Neurons, Neuroscience, optogenetics, Peter Hegemann, PeterHegemann, plant genes, PlantGenes, Research, Roger Tsien, RogerTsien, Stanford, Stanford university, StanfordUniversity
Want to know just how
prevalent technology has become in our lives? Now even lab mice get
Quake-derived virtual reality playgrounds to navigate instead of their old school wooden mazes. In all honesty, this appears a significant and praiseworthy advancement, as the Princeton team have succeeded in mapping brain activity right down to the cellular level, with real-time tracking of single neurons now possible. The Orwellian-looking setup above is necessary in order to keep the mouse's head immobile, and thus capable of being studied, while the animal moves around and its brain performs motion-related tasks. Go past the break to see a schematic of the scanner and a quite unmissable video of it in action.
[Via
Switched]
Continue reading Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video)
Filed under: Science
Mice run through Quake, Princeton neuroscientists scan their brains for traces of evil (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Brain, brain scan, brain scanning, BrainScan, BrainScanning, David Tank, DavidTank, Mice, Mouse, neural, neurological activity, NeurologicalActivity, Neurology, Neuroscience, princeton university, PrincetonUniversity, quake, Research, Scan, scanner, Science, test, testing, video, Virtual reality, VirtualReality, Vr
We first saw the crazy
BrainPort in 2006, but the intervening time hasn't been wasted by its developers, who've brought the quirky visual aid to the cusp of commercial viability. If you'll recall, the device translates signals from a head-mounted camera to electrical pulses that lightly zap your tongue in response to visual stimuli -- early results have shown people can regain a good bit of their spatial awareness and even read large writing. The next step is FDA approval, which is expected by year's end, meaning that the BrainPort could arrive as early as 2010. There is a steep entry fee though, with prices expected to begin at $10,000, but the very fact you'll be able to buy it is a milestone in our book. Edifying video after the break.
[Thanks, Toy]
Continue reading BrainPort lets you see with your tongue, might actually make it to market
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Wearables
BrainPort lets you see with your tongue, might actually make it to market originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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blind, blindness, Brain, BrainPort, BrainPort Vision, BrainportVision, Disability, Eyes, eyesight, Health, Medicine, neural, sense, senses, sensory, sensory substitution, SensorySubstitution, tongue, vision, visual, Wicab
