Nobel medicine prize goes to 3 scientists for research into brain activity
Three scientists have been awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine for their pioneering research into optogenetics. This technique allows researchers to control the activity of individual nerve cells using light, providing new insights into brain function.
Why it matters
This research provides a fundamental tool for neuroscientists worldwide to map and understand the brain's complex mechanisms, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treating neurological disorders.
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STOCKHOLM — The Nobel Prize in medicine was awarded Monday to three scientists working on the mechanisms the brain uses to switch on, or off, the activity of individual nerve cells.
Karl Deisseroth, 54, Peter Hegemann, 71, and Georg Nagel, 73, have carried out research into light-gated ion channels and optogenetics. They are based at universities in Germany and the United States.
The Nobel committee lauded their work, writing on X that the method "is now being used in laboratories around the world to reveal the brain's mysteries."
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