WASHINGTON: Brain control is a reality in the field of optogenetics. This technique enables scientists to turn specific neurons on and off with the flick of a switch.
This approach has its drawbacks, however. It entails genetically engineering neurons so that they turn on or off in response to light, but exposing neurons to light requires implanting a light source within an animal’s skull. In the past, this has meant that the animals – usually mice – were restricted by wires sticking out of their skulls and and the heaviness of the device.
Tiny, wireless LED devices developed by researchers at Stanford University have made it possible for scientists to study animal behavior without any limitations from wires and fewer concerns over the device’s weight, according to a paper published in the journal Nature Methods. The new light source is small enough that scientists can fully implant it under a mouse’s skin, and it can be controlled remotely while the mouse is scurrying about like normal.
Tesla driverless system to use updated radar technology
WASHINGTON: Electric carmaker Tesla announced Sunday it was upgrading its Autopilot software to use more advanced radar technology. In a...
