What Happens with Neuroscientists and Biomedical Engineers work together

Optogenetics is the combination of genetic and optical methods to control specific events in targeted cells of living tissue, even within freely moving mammals and other animals, with the temporal precision (millisecond-timescale) needed to keep pace with functioning intact biological systems. Currently the only thing keeping this from multiple applications is the physical restrictions, such as sizing issues. In Massachusetts there is a research startup that is trying to overcome these physical restrictions: Kendall Research.


Kendall Research is using optogenetics to precisely control cells in the brain to manipulate behavior, model disease processes, or even someday to deliver treatments. They have made prototype devices that are small and light and powered wirelessly. One possible application could be studying feeding behavior and how activating or inhibiting specific groups of neurons change the way mice eat. The ability to test that question right in the animal's cage without a human in the room makes it more likely the animal will behave normally.


Sources: 
http://www.technologyreview.com/biomedicine/39512/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optogenetics