Optogenetics is a quickly evolving field that allows scientists to activate specific neurons using bursts of light. The technique may help to uncover the basis of neurological diseases and how to tame them. Using optogenetics to assess how different drugs affect the central nervous system may offer a powerful new scientific tool.
To that end, scientists at KAIST, South Korea’s national research university, created a wireless neural implant that can deliver multiple drugs and simultaneously activate neurons specially modified for optogenetics. The device features a Bluetooth transmitter, allowing the researchers to control it using a smartphone.