RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS The Hebbian theory is correct: neurons that fire together, wire together. What this means is that if you place these reprogrammed cells into an injured environment, they will behave as injured cells. Therefore, it is
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crucial that rehabilitative technologies are put into place to create a pattern of movement, or deliberate action potentials that you want to restore.
– Philip Horner, Ph.D. Scientific Director, Center for Neuroregeneration Houston Methodist
the brain and spinal cord since the brain controls the spinal
“Instead of putting wires in the central nervous system,
cord. “The problem with wires is their ultimate rejection by the
activity-driving neurons would be equipped with channels
nervous system. In addition, we need to increase the power
that are light-sensitive. We could then install a series of
fairly continuously to assure adequate operation,” says Horner.
LEDs subcutaneously in the patient. For quadriplegia, for
The ultimate technology to create healthy neuronal pathways is optigenetics, according to Horner. Close to FDA approval for the restoration of sight in patients with macular degeneration,
example, we could begin with simply finding the pathways that can be stimulated with light to get some hand function. I think that’s very feasible,” says Horner.
optigenetics uses light to control the movement of neurons.
Currently, Horner and colleagues are working on a clinical
Optigenetics is a medical science gleaned through the study
trial in collaboration with the government of Andalusia, Spain.
of how ocean algae detected sunlight. Researchers learned
The study will reprogram skin fibroblasts into new cells with
that algae move by way of their flagella, which are equipped
the capacity to make new connections in the spinal cord for
with channels that are sensitive to certain wavelengths of sunlight.
chronically paralyzed patients.
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