# A light switch for neurons

- Institution: TED
- Department: TED2011
- Speaker: Ed Boyden
- Year: 2011
- Level: For everyone
- Language: English
- Subjects: Biology, Psychology and the brain
- Source: [TED](https://www.ted.com/talks/ed_boyden_a_light_switch_for_neurons)
- Licence: [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) (Non-commercial use only, and no changed versions.)
- Who can watch: Teens profiles and older (sources give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the source's own words)

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.

## Lectures

1. [A light switch for neurons](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/learn/ted/ed_boyden_a_light_switch_for_neurons/9cf2a3f622bf), 19 min (TED's player)