Seeing the brain with light
A recent paper by Prof. Zeev Zalevsky and his PhD Student, Zeev Kalyuzhner, shows that we can tell what the brain is looking at by inspecting the hemodynamic activity of the brain when analyzing subtle laser speckle patterns reflected from the visual cortex.
Rectangles, triangles, even complex mixes of shapes- each one leaves behind a slightly different optical signature. With nothing more than low-power laser light, a camera, and smart AI analysis, those signatures can be decoded. No electrodes. No MRI. No physical contact.
That’s a big deal.
Why? Because brain monitoring doesn’t have to rely on massive, energy-hungry systems. This kind of approach could lead to portable, low-cost tools for studying vision, diagnosing neurological conditions, and developing brain–machine interfaces—using far fewer resources and opening access well beyond specialized hospitals and labs.
It’s elegant science: minimal hardware, deep insight, and real potential to change how we study the brain while reducing technological footprint.
Congratulations to Prof. Zeev Zalevsky on a genuinely exciting step forward. 👏
