Directly stimulating the brain with magnetic pulses has been shown to help treat migraines and improve memory, but now scientists at the University of Buffalo have developed a technique that lets them directly control physical movements in mice. Using what they call magneto-thermal stimulation, the researchers activated sections of the brain that caused mice to run, turn or stop, in work that could eventually lead to new therapies for brain disorders or even mental illness.

Previous work on directly interfacing with the brain has used a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation, where magnetic coils are placed against the skull to trigger specific brain activity. Along with improving memory and learning, it’s been used to guide people through virtual mazes they’d never seen before and could even allow for brain-to-brain messaging. Another technique, called optogenetics, uses light pulses to interact with neurons that have been genetically engineered to react to light……more here