A Light Switch for Neurons
From: TED Talks

By inserting genes for light-sensitive proteins into brain cells, a
researcher can selectively activate or de-activate specific neurons with
fiber-optic implants. 

Ed Boyden, leader of the Synthetic Neurobiology Group at the MIT Media Lab,
could use this technology to build neural prosthetics.  

View the video (18:24) at:
http://www.ted.com/talks/ed_boyden.html

Links:
Ed Boyden
http://www.ted.com/speakers/ed_boyden.html
http://www.media.mit.edu/people/esb

Synthetic Neurobiology Group
http://syntheticneurobiology.org/

Optogenetic technology holds promise for treating human blindness
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/blindness-boyden-0420.html