By Sama Marwan,
Can you imagine a day when scientists could control your appetite or behavior simply by stimulating specific areas of your brain? This is no longer science fiction — it’s becoming a scientific reality.
In a remarkable leap in the field of neuroscience, researchers have developed innovative techniques that allow them to intervene in brain activity and alter its functions, paving the way for potential treatments of various neurological and psychological disorders.
One of the most promising of these technologies focuses on appetite and behavioral control, offering new hope for managing mental health and neurobehavioral conditions.
According to Science Alert, researchers in South Korea have discovered a non-invasive, remote method to precisely control specific parts of the brain using magnetic fields.
The technique, known as Nano-MIND — short for Magnetogenetic Interface for NeuroDynamics — serves as a magnetic genetic interface for dynamic neuroscience.
The researchers noted that their experiments demonstrated that the technique can selectively activate certain neurons and circuits, effectively modifying higher brain functions.
In one experiment, the team selectively activated inhibitory GABA receptors in neurons located in the anteromedial preoptic area (mPOA) of the hypothalamus — a brain region crucial for nurturing behavior.
When these neurons were stimulated in non-maternal female mice, the animals exhibited a dramatic increase in caregiving behavior, with caregiving time rising by over fourfold.
Additionally, stimulating the inhibitory neurons in this region doubled appetite and feeding behavior, while stimulating excitatory neurons led to a more than 50% decrease in both appetite and food-seeking actions.
Lead author and director of the IBS Center for Nanomedicine, Jinwoo Cheon, remarked:
“This is the world’s first technique that allows free control over specific regions of the brain using magnetic fields.”
According to the study, having such a precise, targeted method for influencing brain circuits represents a scientific breakthrough — one that could significantly aid researchers in mapping neural pathways, testing new therapies, and ultimately improving human well-being.
