Remote brain manipulation is now possible

South Korean researchers have developed an innovative technology capable of controlling the deep neural circuits of the brain using magnetic fields. Named Nano-MIND (Magnetogenetic Interface for NeuroDynamics), this technology allows for the modulation of complex behaviors such as appetite and sociability, paving the way for major advances in understanding the brain and treating neurological disorders.


The human brain, composed of over 100 billion neurons, remains one of the most mysterious and complex organs to study. To unlock the secrets of advanced brain functions such as cognition and emotions, researchers have long sought to precisely manipulate neuronal circuits. Traditionally, this manipulation relied on invasive methods, often requiring the implantation of devices inside the brain. However, the new technology developed by researchers from the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) and Yonsei University in South Korea promises to revolutionize this field.

Nano-MIND utilizes magnetic fields combined with magnetized nanoparticles to selectively activate or inhibit specific neurons, without the need for implanted devices. The key to this technique lies in the selective expression of specific receptors, called magnetoreceptors, in the targeted neurons. These receptors respond to a rotating magnetic field, allowing for precise activation or inhibition of neuronal circuits, remotely and wirelessly.

In experiments, researchers succeeded in controlling the appetite of mice by targeting the neural circuits of the lateral hypothalamus. Activation of inhibitory neurons in this region doubled the mice's appetite, while activation of excitatory neurons halved it. Furthermore, by modifying neuronal activity in the medial preoptic area, researchers were able to induce maternal behaviors in non-mother mice, demonstrating the potential of Nano-MIND to influence complex behaviors.

Jinwoo Cheon, director of the Center for Nanomedicine at IBS, emphasizes that this technology, the first of its kind to enable such precise brain control via magnetic fields, could transform neuroscience research. It might also have applications in the development of artificial neural networks and new brain-computer interfaces, while opening up prospects for the treatment of various neurological disorders.