Scientists think they’ve figured out a new way to help control brain cells from a distance, and there’s at least a loose connection to hot chili peppers.
In this case, though, it doesn’t mean trying out different flavors on the scoville scale. Instead, scientists injected something called TRPV1 into the brains of mice. That’s where the hot pepper connection comes it. TRPV1 is the same molecule that helps people sense the heat in capsaicin, which is the compound that naturally makes chili peppers so hot.
The researchers say once they injected TRPV1 into the brains of mice, they were able to use infrared light beams to control specific brain cells from up to three feet away.
They’re hoping this will make it easier to study mice naturally interacting with each other, as well as to get a better understanding of the brain. In the past they’ve had to use invasive implants or mount something on to the mouse’s head to do the research. In this case, though, scientists were then able to inject nanoparticles called MINDS into the brains of the mice to absorb and strengthen the infrared light. When both the MINDS and TRPV1 were on the side of the brain that controls motion, researchers were then able to use the infrared beam to make the mice walk in circles.
When used on the dopamine neurons of the brain, scientists say the mice became somewhat addicted to the infrared beam. They spent most of their time beneath the beam, even when they couldn’t see it. It's thought using TRPV1 and MINDS could play a role in the future of studying animal brains as they go about their natural lives. Essentially, it’s a high-tech way of using something humans already use to sense the heat of hot chili peppers to then learn more about the world around us, and how animal brains work and respond.