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Nobel Medicine Prize Goes To Scientists Behind Brain-Mapping Technique

The technique has transformed neuroscience by helping scientists identify brain circuits linked to pain, memory, social behavior, thirst, appetite and attention

,   and  TIPP Staff
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The three basic researchers Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel receive the Nobel Prize in Medicine || (Pic via X)

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for developing optogenetics, a technique that allows researchers to study and control nerve cells using light, according to the Nobel committee.

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Hegemann and Nagel discovered channelrhodopsin, a light-sensitive protein found in algae. Deisseroth later adapted the discovery for use in nerve cells, creating a method that can activate or silence specific neural circuits with precision.

The technique has transformed neuroscience by helping scientists identify brain circuits linked to pain, memory, social behavior, thirst, appetite and attention. Researchers are also studying its potential applications in neurological and psychiatric disorders.

The Nobel committee said optogenetics has already shown promise in restoring limited vision in a blind patient using light-sensitive proteins and specialized glasses. Research is also exploring applications for hearing loss.

The three laureates will share a prize of 12 million Swedish krona.

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