New research uses light to alter brain activity

11 January 2010

New research published in the journal Nature this month shows that light can be used to switch off the activity of nerve cells inside the brains of mice.

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US have developed a new technique that uses coloured light to alter the activity of nerve cells.

This will allow researchers to look more closely at how nerve cells work inside the brain. This may lead to a better understanding of the changes that happen inside the brain in conditions like Parkinson's.

What the researchers did

The research team added 2 genes - called Arch and Mac - to separate groups of nerve cells.

Arch and Mac genes produce proteins that are highly sensitive to light. The researchers discovered that shining light of the right wavelength, or colour, triggers these proteins and stops their nerve cell working.

Yellow light stops nerve cells that have the Arch gene, while blue light stops those with the Mac gene.

Potential for Parkinson's research

People with Parkinson's don't have enough of a chemical dopamine because some of the nerve cells in their brain have died. Without it people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things.

Dr Kieran Breen, our Director of Research and Development, comments:

"At the moment, researchers rely on using chemicals to mimic the damage seen inside the Parkinson's brain."

"These innovative light techniques could be used to explore the more subtle brain changes that occur in Parkinson's.

"Using coloured light would allow researchers to turn off specific groups of nerve cells more precisely and in a reversible manner.

"This would offer new insights into how these complex brain circuits work, and important clues for developing new and better treatments for Parkinson's."

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