Nobel Prize 2026 Awarded for Showing Inner Workings of the Brain
BBC News reports that the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to US psychiatrist and neurologist Karl Deisseroth and his German colleagues Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel for their groundbreaking work in optogenetics.
Optogenetics, a technique using a protein borrowed from algae to control cell electrical activity with light, has revolutionized neuroscience. It allows researchers to illuminate brain pathways and study nerve cells and their functions in animals, shedding light on feelings, behaviors, and disorders.
The Nobel Committee praised the researchers for enabling a "new era in neuroscience" by revealing how to manipulate neural circuits related to memories, feelings, and behaviors, and even restoring sight in people with visual impairment.
"Optogenetics has fundamentally altered our understanding of the brain," the Nobel Assembly stated.
The winners expressed their "absolute wonder" at receiving the award and acknowledged their shared honor. They will each receive £900,000 (12 million Swedish kronor) in prize money.