Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Researcher Implants Laser-Activated Brain Cells

Posted by samzenpus on from the listen-to-the-light dept.

destinyland writes "A Stanford researcher has spliced light-sensitive algae genes into human brain cells to fire neurons when activated by a laser. Light is shined through an implanted fiber optic cable (blue light on, yellow light off), and the procedure can target very specific deep brain structures too fragile for most surgery. 'Once the researcher attaches the other end of the cable to a laser, he or she has absolute and flawless control over that group of neurons.' Science writer Quinn Norton cites it as a first attempt at 'building useful handles on the very things that make us ourselves.'"

5 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. Re:First Post! by calmofthestorm · · Score: 3, Interesting

    We've been over this. God is sufficient but not necessary for consciousness. It's far too early to tell either way right now. Keep working on the Hard Problem:-)

    --
    93rd rule of Slashdot: No matter how obvious my sarcasm is, my comment will be taken seriously by someone.
  2. Great, now commercialize it.. by QuantumG · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Things you need to do with your DNI:

    1. Invoke mental imagery, preferably without interfering with normal vision.
    2. Infer mental imagery manipulation.. for example, when you hear the question "what letter do you get by turning a Z on its side?" results in a common specific quale of visual intelligence.
    3. Test and improve the rate and bandwidth.

    With such an interface you can do human computer interaction in ways that are completely unavailable to current input devices. Imagine having a 3d modeling tool where you can just think about the object you want, or how it differs from the object you're seeing. Imagine, if you can, receiving data at a higher bandwidth than video.

    --
    How we know is more important than what we know.
  3. Re:So.... by zarzu · · Score: 3, Interesting

    they need to open up the brain to insert the virus and it seems they install a 50 micrometer fiber optic cable that points to the specific cells right after that. and my best guess is that you have a cable coming out of your head which you then connect to the laser. the whole thing sounds pretty amazing with the whole algae and archaeon genes, very cool.

  4. Here comes our direct Neural Link by physburn · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Sci-fi has been having human "jacking in" to computer systems, via direct connection to the brain for a while. This technology ought to make that possible, Just how to make the brain cells actually connect themselves in some useful way to the rest of the brain, seems tricky though, and i hope these gene splice brain cells are safe against cancer etc.

    ---

    Futurology Feed @ Feed Distiller

  5. Spinal damage by quantumphaze · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I wonder if this can be applied to other purposes like bypassing damaged sections of a paraplegics spinal cord.

    We would need to develop a neuron to laser device at the other end first, but the possibilities of making people walk again are worth investment.

    --
    Unicode in Slashdot