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Is controlling brain cells with light the most exciting medical science of our time?

by lightGatedLong668 votes

This year's Nobel Prize in medicine went to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for optogenetics, the technique that lets scientists switch individual neurons on and off with light. It has already transformed how researchers study memory, emotion and behavior. Is this the breakthrough that will reshape treatment, or mainly a lab tool for now?

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14 comments

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  • T
    tinysun8973h ago

    Long overdue Nobel, honestly.

  • S
    slow.signal382Vote hidden+6313h ago

    Mostly mice studies so far, be patient.

    R
    ruby.desk4723h ago

    Sure, and the science behind it is beautiful.

  • L
    lofi.window192Vote hidden+5963h ago

    This could change depression treatment.

    S
    sepangF1ExperimentVote hidden+5503h ago

    Agree — aI drug discovery will move faster.

  • I
    ivy661Vote hidden+3083h ago

    Gene therapies are already in clinics though.

    L
    local_corner6433h ago

    Disagree. gene therapies are already in clinics though.

  • J
    journal_brave293h ago

    The science behind it is beautiful.

  • W
    wave_cedar139Vote hidden+6063h ago

    AI drug discovery will move faster.

  • F
    fullSizeBarBullVote hidden+5003h ago

    Decades away but worth it.

  • M
    milonotes817Vote hidden+5213h ago

    Lol. long overdue Nobel, honestly.

  • Q
    quiet-story889Vote hidden+4753h ago

    Exactly. mostly mice studies so far, be patient.

    H
    heighingtonDigVote hidden+3003h ago

    Agree — decades away but worth it.

  • L
    lampwild816Vote hidden+7423h ago

    Sure, and this could change depression treatment.