Scientists use lasers to control mouse brain switchboard

Ever wonder why it’s hard to focus after a bad night’s sleep? Using mice and flashes of light, scientists show that just a few nerve cells in the brain may control the switch between internal thoughts and external distractions. The study, partly funded by the National Institutes of Health, may be a breakthrough in understanding how a critical part of the brain, called the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN), influences consciousness.
Source: NINDS Press Releases and News: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - Category: Neurology Source Type: news