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Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann, and Georg Nagel have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. The Karolinska Institute decided to confer this award upon them for their discoveries regarding “light-controlled ion channels and optogenetics.”

The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, announced the names of the laureates around 3:30 PM (Bangladesh time) on Monday.

The Karolinska Institute in Stockholm announces the Nobel Prize in Medicine, while the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announces the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.

Optogenetics is a technique that enables the observation of how neurons in the living brain generate memories, emotions, and behaviors.

Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel discovered a protein called channelrhodopsin in single-celled algae. Karl Deisseroth subsequently transformed this protein into a light-controlled switch to regulate neurons. Their discoveries have laid the foundation for a new era in neuroscience.

Using optogenetics, researchers have been able to identify the neural circuits that control specific memories, emotions, and behaviors. This research is also making significant contributions to the understanding of neurological and mental disorders. Researchers are also employing this method in efforts to restore vision to those who have lost it.

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