That kind of process is known as optogenetics.

这种过程被称为“光遗传学”。

To do it, the researchers used a technique called optogenetics.

为此，研究人员使用了一种被称为“光遗传学”的技术。

First, do optogenetic tools even work in humans?

首先， 光遗传学工具对人类有用吗？

Scientists developed optogenetic tools by borrowing knowledge from other basic science fields.

科学家通过借鉴其他基础科学领域的知识开发了光遗传学工具。

So to test its role in eating behavior, they used a technique called optogenetics, on mice.

因此，为了测试它在饮食行为中的作用， 他们在老鼠身上使用了一种称为光遗传学的技术。

The breakthrough marks an important step towards the more widespread use of optogenetics as a clinical treatment.

这一突破标志着将光遗传学作为临床治疗更广泛使用的重要一步。

We can use optogenetics to target the same pathway in a mouse, and see what happens.

我们可以使用光遗传学来瞄准小鼠中的相同通路，看看会发生什么。

Here we're using optogenetics to target neurons living in the hypothalamus, sending messages down wires aimed at the midbrain.

在这里， 我们使用光遗传学来靶向生活在下丘脑中的神经元，将信息沿着针对中脑的导线发送。

The team made their discovery with a technique called optogenetics, which uses genetic engineering to introduce light-sensitive proteins into select brain cells.

该团队通过一种称为光遗传学的技术做出了他们的发现，该技术使用基因工程将光敏蛋白引入选定的脑细胞。

The development of optogenetic tools has allowed us unprecedented control over specific neurons in the brain and how they talk to each other by firing electrical signals.

光遗传学工具的发展使我们能够前所未有地控制大脑中的特定神经元，以及它们如何通过发射电信号相互交流。

There are still major obstacles to overcome before optogenetic treatment can be used more widely, including identifying the relevant brain cells to be modified, and finding ways to safely introduce light sources into the brain.

在光遗传学治疗得到更广泛应用之前， 仍有重大障碍需要克服，包括识别要修饰的相关脑细胞， 以及找到将光源安全引入大脑的方法。

I'm going to show you a couple of examples -- a taste of raw data -- of how we can use optogenetics to target specific neurons in the brain and get very specific changes in behavior.

我将向您展示几个例子——原始数据的味道——我们如何使用光遗传学来瞄准大脑中的特定神经元并获得非常具体的行为变化。

With the help of my colleagues, I pioneered the use of optogenetic tools to selectively target neurons that are living in point A, sending messages down wires aimed at point B, leaving neighboring neurons going other places unaffected.

在我的同事的帮助下，我率先使用光遗传学工具选择性地瞄准生活在 A 点的神经元， 沿着针对 B 点的线路发送信息， 让邻近的神经元去其他地方不受影响。