Transcript Controlling the Brain Current Methods

Controlling the Brain
Valerie Fortin
BME 181 Spring 2013
Current Methods

Most treatments for neural
disorders include either
prescribed medicine or surgery
–
Surgery removes entire
sections of brain
–
Medicine is unable to
target the specific cells
–
Both often have severe
side-effects
A Better Alternative

Dr. Ed Boyden
–
Spoke at URI Honors
Colloquium 20112012
–
Looking for better
way to treat brain
problems
•
More specific
targeting
•
Fewer
permanent
effects
An On/Off Switch

Neurons firing as normal (left)
–
When hit with light, they either are temporarily
deactivated (as shown) or stimulated, depending on
what sort of gene therapy they received
Process

DNA is extracted from life form with natural
photoreceptors
–




Bacteria, fungi, etc.
Genetic code is implemented into a harmless virus
which will target a specific set of cells
Virus is introduced to brain
Neurons develop photoreceptors like those of the
original organism
Neurons can now be activated or deactivated with light
Early Stages of Research

Technology not being
used on humans
–

Developed largely
with mice
Has been used to
–
Access reward
center of brain
–
Remove learned
fear reaction to
stimulus
–
Restore vision
Works Cited
[1] Boyden, Ed. (2011, March). Ed Boyden: A Light Switch for Neurons. [Video file].
Retrieved from <http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/ed_boyden.html>
[2] Chu, Jennifer. "Light Switches for Neurons" MIT Technology Review. MIT, 26 Mar.
2010. Web. 03 Apr. 2013. <http://www.technologyreview.com/news/418180/light-switchesfor-neurons/>.
[3] "Fall 2011 Honors Colloquium." Honors Colloquium. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2013.
<http://www.uri.edu/hc/2011/index.html>.