This is an interesting story, but let's be careful not to dwell on the potentially sinister uses of optogenetics. Other research groups at MIT — i.e. within th

This is an interesting story, but let's be careful not to dwell on the potentially sinister uses of optogenetics. Other research groups at MIT — i.e. within the McGovern Institute for Brain Research — are using the same techniques to better understand the biological basis for psychiatric disorders. For example, they recently used light stimulation to rid rats of compulsive behaviors. I'm very excited about the potential for this technology to help people suffering with OCD, general anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder.