In 2004, scientists, including author Edward S. Boyden, Ph.D., found that the neural expression of a protein, channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2), allowed light to activate or silence brain cells. This technology, now known as optogenetics, is helping scientists determine the functions of specific neurons in the brain, and could play a significant role in treating medical issues as diverse as sleep disorders and vision impairment.
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机译：2004年，包括作者爱德华·S·博伊登（Edward S. Boyden）博士在内的科学家们发现，一种蛋白，即通道视紫红质2（ChR2）的神经表达，可以使光激活或沉默脑细胞。这项技术现已被称为光遗传学，它正在帮助科学家确定大脑中特定神经元的功能，并可能在治疗诸如睡眠障碍和视力障碍等医学问题方面发挥重要作用。
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