Ed Boyden: A light switch for neurons

http://www.ted.com 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&A.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate.

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[uprightking]

WTF no standing ovation, did nobody in that audience hear what he said?

[consciousnez]

I cant wait to genetically modify my children...i wasnt even gona have kids till i saw this. now i will have super kids

[oldmcgroin]

This man deserves more respect.

[Luis Eguez]

oh my god

[Koto Nizna]

In the future when optogenetic and quantum computer is on mainstream people will share thoughts and learnings in a very different way. They can also upload a dream in piratebay before going to sleep! yay! and brain hacking EMEGERD!

[daniel bum]

wow this means a new era of "light medicine" and also brain computing interface ?? just that ??

[joeymatee]

that was an amazing talk, i think without dry humour and silly pictures the audience was disappointed

[Jack Laurence]

Ed Boyden was a *prodigy actually, he worked for MIT as a teenager.

[MrThundersack]

theyre not pordigies,they worked hard to get there

[Антон Ряднов]

Русские включите субтитры и перевод!!и Угарайте

[Hallibutbouy]

pool



[Ian MathWiz]

3:19 Migraines must be twice as common, seeing as they're listed twice :D