How scientists learned to control brain cells with light

The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their pioneering discoveries in optogenetics and light-gated ion channels. Their research transformed neuroscience by enabling scientists to control and study specific nerve cells using light, revealing how brain circuits regulate memory, emotions, behaviour and bodily functions. The breakthrough has opened new avenues for understanding neurological and psychiatric disorders and is already influencing research into conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, addiction and vision loss. Published - October 07, 2026 10:23 am IST