Brain circuits selectively activated with nano-MIND

Key to this breakthrough is the world’s first Nano-MIND (Magnetogenetic Interface for NeuroDynamics) technology. 

Developed by researchers at the Center for Nanomedicine within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Yonsei University in South Korea, Nano-MIND enables wireless and remote control of specific brain regions to modulate complex brain functions such as emotions, social behaviours, and motivation in animals. The team’s results have been detailed in Nature Nanotechnology.

The human brain contains over 100 billion neurons interconnected in a complex network. Controlling the neural circuits is crucial for understanding higher brain functions like cognition, emotion, and social behaviour, as well as identifying the causes of various brain disorders. 

Novel technology to control brain functions also has implications for advancing brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), such as those being developed by Neuralink, which aim to enable control of external devices through thought.

Magnetic fields have long been used in medical imaging due to their safety and ability to penetrate biological tissue, but precisely controlling brain circuits with magnetic fields has been challenging for scientists.