Scientists have stumbled upon a method to control the human brain using flashes of light, after successfully conducting experiments at the MIT Media Lab, activating a specific set of neurons in a monkey’s brain. The strongest point of this optogenetic technique is its specificity, where a combination of lasers and genetic engineering will enable scientists to control the firing of specific class or neurons to the millisecond. This will also enable researchers to point out problematic cells and circuits without harming innocent bystanders so that potential side effects can be minimized.
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