Ready for the Bleeding Edge Science Word of the Day? Optogenetics. It’s even weirder than it sounds, too: optogenetics is the manipulation of a cell’s functions with light (usually lasers). Today, American startup Kendall Research has announced that it has made a wireless optogenetics device that the company’s founder calls “a wireless router for the brain.”
To understand the importance of optogenetics, and to marvel at the magic of hooking your brain up to a network with a wireless router, we have to first look at how researchers currently investigate cell function, and thus just how groundbreakingly different the optogenetic approach is. Basically, as it stands, we have very limited control animal cells — especially brain cells. We know that neurons communicate by firing an electric signal, but we don’t know how a cluster of electrical impulses magically becomes a mental image of an elephant, the sensation of love, or a eureka-like idea.
At the moment, the only real way to investigate animal cells is to knock out a function, usually by breeding a genetically engineered mutant. We can breed a fearless rat, for example. Obviously this takes a matter of weeks or months — and even then, we don’t have a way of interacting with cells in real time; a particular function is either on or off. That’s where optogenetics comes in. The first step is to make cells sensitive to light — neurons, for example — usually using a virus (a fairly standard technique for gene therapy). Then, lasers are used to control those cells. Using the rat example, first you would use a virus to make all of its brain cells optically-sensitive; then, in real time, you can test whichever part of the brain you like using lasers — or perhaps multiple parts of the brain at once.
Now, back to the “wireless router” claim. In essence, optogenetics equipment has historically been too bulky to strap to a rat (or human). Kendall Research has developed a few prototypes that are battery powered, weigh just a few grams, and are wirelessly connected to a controlling computer. Instead of cumbersome lasers, Kendall’s devices use lighter, more efficient LEDs and laser diodes. Kendall Research now has lab animals scampering around with optogenetic devices strapped to their heads. Scientists can change the function of the animals’ brains by tapping on a keyboard, or they can even set up scheduled, autonomous tests.
As far as humans are concerned, optogenetics are probably the key to Matrix-like “I want to learn Kung Fu!” hacks. You would have a cortical shunt behind your year, with an optogenetic device constantly plugged in and pointing towards your brain. Then, when you want to learn something or otherwise alter your brain function, you would either plug in a memory card or connect to a wireless network — though, of course, if you go down that route you’ll want to make sure that the device is completely secure. Otherwise, imagine if media — movies, TV, advertising — could hack into your brain and make you more receptive…
Read more at Technology Review