A light switch for nerve cells - Ed Boyden
Mar 31, 2026•24 min
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episode description
View full lesson: http://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-light-switch-for-neurons-ed-boyden
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.
Talk by Ed Boyden.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android