The South China Morning Post reports that the three scientists were honored for research on light-gated ion channels and for discoveries that led to optogenetics.
According to the same newspaper, the committee described optogenetics as making it possible to activate or deactivate the activity of individual nerve cells in a living brain.
The announcement took place at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, the venue identified by Euronews and the South China Morning Post for the opening of Nobel Week.
The Medicine prize thus inaugurated the schedule of the 2026 Nobel announcements, according to the consistent reports of India Today, Euronews, ANSA and the South China Morning Post.
ANSA reports that the schedule of scientific prizes was to continue on October 6 with Physics and on October 7 with Chemistry.
The award therefore places research on optogenetics at the center of the opening of the Nobel season, presented by the South China Morning Post alongside the reference to light-gated ion channels and the possibility of intervening in the activity of individual nerve cells.