Bioengineering: Thought Waves Used to Control Gene Expression in Protein Production

Thoughts control a near-infrared LED, which starts the production of a molecule in a reaction chamber.Martin Fussenegger / ETH Zurich

Scientists have tapped into human brainwaves to control a gene network involved in production of proteins.

By transferring thoughts wirelessly, ETH bioengineers could manipulate the gene expression for proteins.

The novel gene regulation by thought-controlcould lead to implants that combat neurological diseases, like chronic headaches, back pain and epilepsy, by detecting specific brainwaves at an early stage and triggering production of alleviating agents at the right time.

Marc Folcher and other researchers from the group led by Martin Fussenegger, Professor of Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the Department of Biosystems (D-BSSE) in Basel used an EEH headset to record brain waves.

These were analysed and transmitted via Bluetooth to a controller that switches on the current to an implant.

The implant emits LED light in the near infrared range to illuminate a culture of genetically modified cells and trigger them to produce a desired protein.

The bioengineers have presented their findings in the journal Nature Communications.

The implant was initially tested in cell cultures and mice, and controlled by the thoughts of various test subjects.

The researchers used SEAP, an easy-to-detect human model protein which diffuses from the culture chamber into the mouse's bloodstream.

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Bioengineering: Thought Waves Used to Control Gene Expression in Protein Production