Ed Boyden: A light switch for neurons

About this film

Ed Boyden shows how, by inserting genes for light-sensitive proteins into brain cells, he can selectively activate or de-activate specific neurons with fiber-optic implants. With this unprecedented level of control, he's managed to cure mice of analogs of PTSD and certain forms of blindness. On the horizon: neural prosthetics. Session host Juan Enriquez leads a brief post-talk Q and A.

Directors & creators

TED.com

Subjects

TEDTalks;TED;Talks;brain;neurology;science;technology;TED2011;2011

View on archive.org ↗