Vision restoration: From prostheses to genetic-based brain-machine interfaces

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Biotechnology
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• Restoring vision via brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) is challenging due to high pixel and refresh rate requirements for image perception.
• Traditional visual prostheses use electrode arrays for retinal or cortical stimulation, enabling basic visual tasks but not face recognition.
• Limitations in current visual prostheses highlight the need for advanced stimulation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore novel strategies for visual restoration using biotechnology and gene therapy.
• To introduce optogenetic and sonogenetic therapies as non-contact methods for neuronal stimulation.
• To assess the potential of these new BMIs for treating blindness and other neurological disorders.

Main Methods:

• Optogenetic therapy modifies neurons to be light-sensitive using microbial opsins.
• Sonogenetic therapy engineers neurons to respond to ultrasound waves.
• Evaluation of these therapies in preclinical models and, for optogenetics, in human clinical trials.

Main Results:

• Optogenetic therapy has shown success in restoring vision in patients with photoreceptor degeneration.
• Sonogenetic therapy has been evaluated at the cortical level in rodent models.
• These methods offer a paradigm shift from electrode-based stimulation.

Conclusions:

• Optogenetics and sonogenetics represent promising advancements in brain-machine interfaces for visual restoration.
• These non-invasive stimulation techniques hold potential for treating blindness and other neurological conditions.
• Further research and development are crucial for translating these therapies into widespread clinical applications.