Scientists are probing a bold question: can neurons, long viewed as the brain’s electrical messengers, also transmit light? Interdisciplinary teams blending neuroscience with advanced optics are testing the idea. If proven, it could transform our understanding of brain function and enable faster brain-computer interfaces and novel diagnostics for neurological diseases. Data from leading research centers suggests researchers are inching toward experimental evidence, though clear proof remains elusive.
For Thai readers, the potential implications are profound. The brain has traditionally been seen as a network that communicates through electrical impulses and chemical signals. Now researchers are exploring whether axons—the long, cable-like projections of neurons—could carry light particles, similar to fiber-optic cables used in telecommunications. If this “optical layer” exists, the brain would hide an additional mode of information flow alongside electrical signaling.
Current knowledge shows neurons transmit signals via action potentials and neurotransmitters at synapses. Vision and light perception are known to rely on specialized sensory pathways, but the new theory suggests light could play a deeper role inside the brain’s communication system. Scientists are investigating whether biophotons—weak light emitted naturally by living tissue—could travel along axons, potentially adding a rapid, parallel channel for information processing. The main challenge remains the brain’s natural opacity, which makes observing such light transport difficult in living tissue.
Early studies in simple organisms indicate neurons can detect and respond to light using proteins like LITE-1, while the retina demonstrates living light-guiding cells that direct photons toward photoreceptors. However, whether bulk light transmission occurs deep within the brain beyond specialized structures is still under rigorous scrutiny. In parallel, researchers are examining whether an optical code could complement the brain’s electric code, possibly explaining aspects of consciousness or rapid memory formation.
Thai universities and research institutions are closely watching these developments. Thai neuroscience and engineering communities are actively exploring non-invasive light-based tools such as optical coherence tomography and advanced imaging techniques. The prospect of neurons transmitting light could inspire new diagnostic methods and ultra-fast neural interfaces in Thailand, with collaboration from national centers of science and medicine. Local institutions are already contributing to global efforts by advancing imaging technologies and exploring clinical applications.
Historically, discoveries about how neurons communicate have reshaped medicine. Electrical signaling laid the foundation for modern neurology, electroencephalography, and treatments for epilepsy. The discovery of chemical neurotransmitters enabled therapies for depression and Parkinson’s disease. If optical communication becomes part of brain function, it could spark a new era in brain-machine interfaces and neural therapies, according to Thai researchers who study neural engineering.
Skeptics caution that most brain signaling aligns with established electrical and chemical models, and that concrete, repeatable experimental evidence for widespread optical transmission is still forthcoming. Still, the field is compelling, and scientists advocate for robust imaging and optogenetic approaches to test the theory before any major revisions to textbooks.
If ongoing studies in model systems confirm purposeful light movement along living axons, the implications extend beyond basic science. Imagine non-invasive brain therapies using specific light frequencies or brain-computer interfaces capable of reading and writing information at unprecedented speeds.
For readers, the takeaway is curiosity at work. Thailand’s students and science enthusiasts are encouraged to follow developments in neuroscience and photonics, and to support STEM education. Parents and educators can nurture interest in biology, physics, and engineering, helping the next generation contribute to breakthroughs at the intersection of mind and light. Strengthening collaborations between Thai universities and global research hubs will support the country’s role in these groundbreaking efforts.
If you’d like to explore further, engage with responsible science coverage and participate in local STEM education initiatives to prepare youth for fast-evolving fields that blend biology, light, and technology. Each new finding expands what we think the brain can do, inviting us to ask: what else might the mind be capable of?