Controlling the Brain with Light (Karl Deisseroth, Stanford University)

Karl Deisseroth is pioneering bold new treatments for depression and other psychiatric diseases. By sending pulses of light into the brain, Deisseroth can control neural activity with remarkable precision. In this short talk, Deisseroth gives an thoughtful and awe-inspiring overview of his Stanford University lab's groundbreaking research in "optogenetics".

Prof. Karl Deisseroth's website:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/dlab/

Stanford University:
http://www.stanford.edu/

Stanford University Channel on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/stanford

• Category

  Education

[subztree]

matrix science is the future

[Jason Stevens]

They use adeno-associated virus to introduce the genes into the cells (a virus commonly used in gene therapy). Specific promoters are attached to the genes so that they are only expressed in a certain cell type.

[Leah Lozano]

Dr. Karl Deisseroth and his whole team are absolutely genius. I have been researching this topic and the new field of optogenetics for about 2 months now. The application of this to human brains would be ground-breaking. A step closer to the cure of so many psychiatric diseases and understanding of the brain on another level. It's amazing how much progress this field has made since 2005. It's like it's not even taking steps but leaps. People admire celebrities, I admire people like this.

[Yurmomnsn]

He never mentioned it as a possible "cure" for developmental delay. I do not know where you got that from. Parkinson's and depression were the main focus. I did understand the lecture. I don't know what you are talking about. I am saying that somebody with parkinsons or depression will likely voluntarily undergo the procedure. I was countering Jack Napier's argument by saying that its not up to him what other people do if its not causing direct harm to himself or his property.

[alienkishorekumar]

Sadly, you didn't understand the lecture. It is not for normal people. It is good for people who are mentally challenged and with some brain disorder. You can just check out why they do this research. It is similar to your very old Small Pox Vaccine. They even invented medicine to cure AIDS and certain types of Cancer, just update yourself to know the world, it is moving too fast now.

[Yurmomnsn]

Somebody has to bridge the frontier. For example the discovery of the small pox vaccine. I am sure there will be people willing to undergo the procedure and what one chooses to do to their body is not my concern.

[alienkishorekumar]

nope. you are not actually getting it. they aren't treating anyone. they are just doing scientific work. when it comes in commercial market i bet it will be only 10% as effective as this because they have to follow something called neuro-ethics.

[alienkishorekumar]

Great video.

[Jack Napier]

I am saddened by this video and the comments that are pro-what-this-guy-is-doing. Psychiatrists (pseudo-scientists) should not be meddling with other people's minds (and no, I'm not a Scientologist.) Please leave neurology to qualified neurologists.

[NeoMatudio]

We got natural conducting circuit in our brain. It surprised me to know that it can react to the pulses send by light. Great job! This is really an advance psychiatry.