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optogenetics

Featured Genetics Neurology Neuroscience

·July 1, 2026·12 min read

Optogenetics Restores Motor Learning in Huntington’s

Optogenetically activating underactive VIP inhibitory neurons in the motor cortex completely restores normal circuit activity and motor learning in Huntington’s disease models, with therapeutic benefits persisting long after stimulation ends.

Electrophysiology Featured Neuroscience

·June 1, 2026·11 min read

Neuropixels Opto Probe Rewrites Brain Data

A new study introduces Neuropixels Opto, an ultra-thin silicon probe narrower than a human hair capable of simultaneously monitoring and manipulating hundreds of individual neurons deep within the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 13, 2026·9 min read

Single Brain Connection Pinpointed as the Starting Point of Learning

Scientists have pinpointed a single synaptic connection in the basal ganglia as the origin point for vocal learning. By studying zebra finches, researchers discovered that "turning off" these specific synapses causes a bird's song to revert to babbling. This discovery highlights the brain's delicate balance between creative experimentation and technical mastery, offering new insights into human speech and movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

This shows a brain surrounded by buildings and a road.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 10, 2026·9 min read

How Your Brain Links “Where to Go” with “Why It Matters”

Researchers have identified a specific group of neurons where spatial memory and emotional drive converge. This "crosstalk" in the nucleus accumbens explains how our brain links location to reward.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·April 9, 2026·8 min read

The Shared Secret of Mammal and Dragonfly Color Vision

Dragonflies and humans independently evolved the same mechanism for sensing red light. This ultra-sensitive dragonfly protein could lead to new deep-tissue medical treatments.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 30, 2026·6 min read

Decoding Complexity: Targeting Individual Pathways in the Cortex

Scientists have developed a new optogenetic tool to control specific long-range connections in the primate brain. This allows for the precise activation or silencing of communication pathways involved in complex behavior.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 4, 2024·4 min read

Noninvasive Light Activation Method Could Revolutionize Brain Treatment

Researchers have developed a noninvasive method called bioluminescent optogenetics (BL-OG), which uses light to activate neurons in the brain without the need for implanted devices. This new technique could transform treatments for neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease by offering a safer alternative to deep brain stimulation.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 22, 2024·6 min read

Light-Activated Muscles Beat Fatigue

Researchers have developed a new approach to muscle control using light instead of electricity. This optogenetic technique allows for more precise muscle control and significantly reduces fatigue in mice. While currently not feasible in humans, this approach could revolutionize prosthetics and help individuals with impaired limb function.

This shows a brain map with the stimulated areas highlighted orange and blue

Featured Neuroscience

·January 27, 2023·5 min read

New Technology May Help Inform Brain Stimulation

A new technique that uses ultrafast fMRI is able to capture brain activity at sub-second levels. The technique allows for real-time monitoring of the brain under stimulation conditions.

This shows a researcher looking at brain scans on a computer

Featured Neuroscience

·January 17, 2023·4 min read

One-Minute Exposure to Monochromatic Light Shown to Modify Neural Connections

One-minute stimulation with monochromatic light activates several visual and non-visual brain regions. The findings shed light on the impact of light stimulation on brain function.