Optogenetics is a procedure to make neurons sensitive to light, allow them to be turned on or off like the flick of a switch in our house. This begs the question of how safe and ethical this technology is, to turn parts of our brain on and off?
Experiments have been done, such as turning a blue light on the right motor cortex of a mouse's brain. The mouse ran in counter-clockwise circles, and would stop when the light was turned off.
Potentials envisioned for the technology are to be able to relieve chronic pain, restore blindness, repair damaged brains, and possibly treat cancer.
Optogenetics was called the "method of the year" in 2010. It can bring leaps into learning about seeing, breathing and the learning process itself.
There is even sci-fi potential, such as interfacing with other animals.
Currently, optogenetics is being studies to awaken someone from an unconscious state, such as when they are put into anesthesia which can take a long time to fade off.
Optogenetics will also allow us to monitor multiple clusters of neurons at once. Currently with electrical techniques, they are best to monitor individual or small numbers of neurons.
How?
Neurons are given a gene from algae or bacteria that creates channels in their membranes which open in response to certain colored light. This is what makes the neurons respond to light. The light ions pass through into the neuron to activate or deactivate it. The virus used to deliver the gene can be tweaked to target and control different neurons.
A fiber optic cable needs to be attached to the head to interface with the brain and targeted neurons. The color of light most often used is blue. This is a drawback, but the benefit it offers is the precision. This hurdle may be overcome in the future with nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is already developed used with infrared penetrating light to activate the nanotech payload around cancer cells.
Current neurological disease treatment requires broad spectrum drugs, or electric stimulation. This is like playing the piano with a mallet. Optogenetics is playing particular notes and listening to the orchestra at the same time.
The obvious place to start testing the technology without the need for the implant, is with the eye. Restoring vision in a blind person is being tried right now. The hope is that the virus will be taken up by the ganglion cells to send signals to the brain, bypassing the lost retina fom inherited blindness.
Issues
The problem with the gene therapy though, is that it's irreversible. We don't really know what adding all these genes will do in the long term. That's why the technology is progressing towards optogenetics without genetics. Such methods as nanotech and infrared light activation don't require gene therapy.
Gene therapy and an implant is not the only issue. We don;t know the long term effects of a laser being shot into ur brains either. Heating the brain is also an issue. There are many prospects in optogenetics, and it's also leading more of an understanding of the brain in the process.
The original issue of mind control is still there. If this tech gets developed, such as imperceptible nanotech, it can end up being in anyone without them knowing, and there behavior would be controlled without them even knowing it. This would be overt direct mind control, compared to the soft covert mind control we have now.
This is something to consider. There are consequences to the actions we create into this world. The more advanced the tools we make become, the more it will be difficult to anticipate the misuse of these tools. The applicable functionality is so broad that it increases the ways for good use, as well as bad use.
We are certainly in a technologically advancing time to live in these past 50 years. The past 2000 years don't even compare. Prudence should be taken on our way forward.
Thank you for your time and attention! I appreciate the knowledge reaching more people. Take care. Peace.
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Author: Kris Nelson /
Contact: steemit.quality@gmail.com
Date: 2016-11-06, 4:20pm EST
