Magnetic Brain Control Tech Alters Appetite and Behavior

Researchers have created a remote, non-invasive technique for selectively controlling brain neurons with magnetic fields. This method promises deeper insights into brain function and the potential for new treatments for disorders.

In a recent study, researchers from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Yonsei University in South Korea tested a technology they developed that uses magnetic fields to remotely and precisely manipulate specific brain regions.

Groundbreaking Technology for Precise Brain Control

“This is the first technology in the world capable of freely controlling specific brain regions using magnetic fields,” said Cheon Jinwoo from the Center for Nanomedicine at IBS, the Department of Nano Biomedical Engineering at Yonsei University, and the study’s co-corresponding author.

“We anticipate its broad application in research to enhance our understanding of brain functions, develop advanced artificial neural networks, improve two-way brain-computer interface technologies, and create new treatments for neurological disorders.”

The researchers’ advanced technology, Nano-MIND (Magnetogenetic Interface for NeuroDynamics), differs from optogenetics, which uses light, and electrical deep brain stimulation, which requires implanted electrodes for treating conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Nano-MIND uses a wireless, remote control method.

Nano-MIND technology employs magnetic fields and magnetized nanoparticles. Neurons are genetically modified to have ‘magnetoreceptors‘ that attract these nanoparticles. When exposed to very low-strength rotating magnetic fields, the receptor-attached magnets twist, activating the neurons.

Evaluating Nano-MIND’s Impact on Behavior in Mice

The researchers tested Nano-MIND on freely moving mice to assess its effects on social behavior and feeding. In one experiment, they selectively activated inhibitory GABA receptors in neurons within the medial preoptic area (mPOA) of the hypothalamus, a region associated with parenting.

Activation of these neurons in non-maternal female mice significantly increased nurturing behaviors, such as approaching and retrieving mouse pups, with a more than four-fold increase in care time. In contrast, control mice showed no interest in the pups.

In another experiment, the researchers targeted circuits in the lateral hypothalamus, a brain region crucial for regulating various physiological processes, including feeding. Activating inhibitory neurons in this area led to a 100% increase in appetite and feeding behaviors, while stimulating excitatory neurons reduced appetite and feeding behaviors by more than 50%.

However, the researchers concluded that Nano-MIND technology can selectively activate specific neurons and circuits to modulate higher brain functions, potentially advancing neuroscience and therapeutic applications.

Felix Leroy, PhD, from the Institute of Neurosciences of Alicante, Spain, commented that while the technology offers benefits such as wireless and long-term stimulation capabilities, which could transform the field by enabling non-invasive and precise brain manipulation, the study has limitations.

The most significant is the uncertainty about the long-term effects of magnetogenetic stimulation and its repeated mechanical impact on cell surfaces, which require further investigation.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

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