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Light Control Over Neurons Wins Nobel
5 Oct
Summary
- Three scientists awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
- Their work enabled control of nerve cells using light.
- Optogenetics is a key technique developed from this research.
The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel. They are recognized for their significant contributions to understanding light-gated ion channels and the development of optogenetics. This pioneering work has enabled scientists to control nerve cell activity with light, a remarkable advancement in neuroscience.
Hegemann and Nagel identified proteins that respond to light by allowing charged particles to pass through cell membranes. Deisseroth subsequently advanced these findings, developing optogenetics into a powerful method for manipulating specific neurons. This technique is now crucial for exploring the complexities of the brain and nervous system.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, first awarded in 1901, has been presented 117 times by the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet. The youngest recipient was Frederick G. Banting at 31, while Peyton Rous was the oldest at 87.
