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MIT Shows How to Shut Down Brain With Light

Posted by samzenpus on from the men-in-black dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The MIT home-page story today is about a way to use light to shut down brain activity. "Scientists at the MIT Media Lab have invented a way to reversibly silence brain cells using pulses of yellow light, offering the prospect of controlling the haywire neuron activity that occurs in diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease."

15 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. There are easier ways by joe_cot · · Score: 5, Funny

    There are easier ways to shut down brain activity. 4chan comes to mind.

    1. Re:There are easier ways by drwiii · · Score: 5, Funny

      Rule 1 violation.

  2. Who wants to bet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...that this is actually a plan to invent the Neuralizer from Men in Black?

  3. Finally! by Steve--Balllmer · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... a scientific reason why we /.ers should not leave the darkness of our parents' basements and our computer monitors, and continue to avoid the dreaded realm known as "outside".

  4. Slight problem with their idea... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful
    According to the article:

    When neurons are engineered to express the halorhodopsin gene, the researchers can inhibit their activity by shining yellow light on them. Light activates the chloride pumps, which drive chloride ions into the neurons, lowering their voltage and silencing their firing. So, if we genetically engineer some people with Parkinson's or epilepsy to have these halorhodopsin neurons, we can give them a normal life as long as we find a way to shine light directly into their brains?
    1. Re:Slight problem with their idea... by kripkenstein · · Score: 4, Insightful
      No, actually the article directly implies that human treatment will come out of this:

      "In the future, controlling the activity patterns of neurons may enable very specific treatments for neurological and psychiatric diseases, with few or no side effects," said Edward Boyden, assistant professor
      - so this is not just a case of a bad writeup of serious research, or a bad summary on Slashdot. It could be a quote taken out of context, though. In any case, the researchers think this (or something related to it) will be viable eventually, while I, for one, must agree with the grandparent post - how exactly will these light-sensitive chloride pumps get into the brains of already-living sick people?

      I assume that the final human treatment, if any is arrived at, will be very different from what they are doing at present. Time will tell. In any case, a very interesting area of research, even if it is hyped a little regarding possible applications.
  5. does it come in an ale? by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The MIT home-page story today is about a way to use light to shut down brain activity.

    Well, I guess that's cheaper than alcohol.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  6. Politics by nagora · · Score: 5, Funny

    Expect to see a lot of yellow lights at party rallies from now on...

    --
    "Encyclopedia" is to "Wikipedia" what "Library" is to "Some people at a bus stop"
  7. Hooray! by mikkelm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally I can get a pair of tinfoil shades to go with my hat.

  8. Re:Makes sense by bindo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Considering certain patterns of light, as found in some video games, for example, have the ability to bring about seizures and people the suffer from Epilepsy, it makes sanse that certain patterns of light would also be able to reverse that effect.

    Considering certain patterns of falling boulders, as found on some mountains, for example, have the ability to bring death and people the suffer from Epilepsy (sic!). it makes sanse that certain patterns of falling boulders would also be able to reverse that effect.
    NOT!

    Common sense is not a substitute for knowledge. The two effects are not even related.

  9. Re:Or Wolfe by cnettel · · Score: 4, Informative

    This is direct exposure, not through the eyes. In addition, the neurons have been altered (an added gene with a photosensitive product) to respond to this treatment.

  10. Another ,,, by BlueTrin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Another sexist topic about blonde girls !

    --
    Don't you know it is now both immoral and criminal to think beyond the next quarterly report?
  11. Requires halorhodopsin gene by sshore · · Score: 5, Interesting

    According to the article, the yellow light "silences" neurons that have been engineered to include the halorhodopsin gene found in certain bacteria. The light doesn't have the same effect on the neurons that you'd typically find in your skull.

    I'm not sure how this would be used clinically to treat epilepsy. Perhaps by introducing the genes into cells in the affected area using a retrovirus?

  12. Re:It's about brain implants for research purposes by bobscealy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did anyone read TFA?



    You ain't from round here, are you boy?

  13. If yellow light shuts down brain cells... by SethHoyt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could this explain why when a traffic light turns yellow, nobody seems to notice it?