2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine awarded to three scientists for discovery that shed light on how the brain works

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel are the laureates of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, recognized for their contribution to the development of a method that has transformed the study of the brain.

Known as optogenetics, the technique acts as a “light-sensitive switch,” allowing researchers to activate and precisely analyze nerve cells.

The foundations of this method were laid when Hegemann and Nagel identified the protein channelrhodopsin in algae. Later, American scientist Karl Deisseroth adapted it into a system that enables neurons to be controlled through light, according to the Nobel Committee.

Using this technology, scientists have been able to isolate specific neural circuits and examine their role in memory, emotions and behavior.

Anna Wedell, who is a member of the Nobel Committee, said the method could help identify brain cells associated with specific functions.

The significance of the discovery extends particularly to research into neurological diseases and psychiatric disorders, as it provides researchers with a much more precise way to observe brain activity.

According to David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at Clarivate’s Institute for Scientific Information, the award demonstrates the extraordinary impact of optogenetics on neuroscience and on understanding the brain and nervous system.