Scientists have established remote control of brain neurons using artificial genes and magnets

Scientists from the University of Virginia have demonstrated how it is possible with magnetic fields to control special neurons in the brain, which appeared there thanks to artificial genes. This study may lead to a leap forward in the treatment of various neuro-diseases - for example, schizophrenia or Parkinson's disease.

“It is possible that we stumbled upon the" dream tool "for remote control of the nerve circuits, by controlling certain brain cells. For this purpose, special gene products susceptible to magnetic fields were artificially created, ”says Ali Deniz Güler, a professor of biology.
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Together with Michael Wheeler, they engineered a gene that allows cells to perceive magnetic fields. For this, two genes were combined, one of which was responsible for the response to cell stretching. The resulting gene, of course, was named by the scientists “Magneto”, in honor of the comic book hero about “X-Men”.

Having placed the magnetosensitive nerve cells in the center of the brain's pleasure, the scientists observed how the experimental animals change their behavior in the presence of magnetic fields, confirming the success of the operation. Mice voluntarily came to those branches of the maze where magnetic fields were present, and showed no interest in them if the field was turned off.

Also, experiments were made on the embryos of the zebrafish, which began to actively move when the magnetic field was turned on, and stopped doing so when it was turned off. In their case, nerve cells sensitive to electromagnetic fields were located near the center responsible for processing information about the pressure of water flows.

Scientists managed to achieve the activation of certain brain cells with the help of magnetic fields, which previously no one could do. This process is non-invasive and accurate, and can lead to the creation of fundamentally new ways to treat brain pathologies. In the meantime, the method can already be used to study the characteristics of growth, development and functioning of the brain.