Tiny implant in brain can control neural circuits

In a step toward automated animal studies, engineers at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, and at the University of Washington have built an implantable micro device that allows a smartphone to control neuromodulation.  “These ‘plug-n-play’ drug cartridges were assembled into a brain implant for mice with a soft and ultrathin probe (thickness of a human hair), which consisted of microfluidic channels and tiny LEDs (smaller than a grain of salt), for unlimited drug doses and light delivery.  Controlled with an elegant and simple user interface on a smartphone, neuroscientists can easily trigger any specific combination or precise sequencing of light and drug deliveries in any implanted target animal without need to be physically inside the laboratory.”  MORE

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