Nobel medicine prize goes to three scientists for research into brain activity

Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel are shown on the screen as they are awarded the 2026 Nobel Prize in Medicine, during a press conference at the Nobel Forum. ( TT News Agency via AP: Pontus Lundah )

Two German and one US scientist have been awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

The prize went to scientists working on the mechanisms the brain uses to switch the activity of individual nerve cells on or off.

The prize has kicked off Nobel week, with the physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics prizes to come.

The Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to three scientists working on the mechanisms the brain uses to switch on, or off, the activity of individual nerve cells.

Karl Deisseroth, 54, Peter Hegemann, 71, and Georg Nagel, 73, have carried out research into light-gated ion channels and optogenetics.

The Nobel committee lauded their work, writing on X that the method "is now being used in laboratories around the world to reveal the brain's mysteries".

Mr Deisseroth is based at Stanford University in California, while Mr Hegemann is at Humboldt University in Berlin and Mr Nagel at the University of Würzburg in Germany, the Nobel Assembly said.

There are six Nobel prize categories: medicine, physics, chemistry, literature, peace and economics. ( AP Photo: Jacquelyn Martin, File )

The prize was announced at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, on Monday, kicking off Nobels week.

The prize money this year is 12 million Swedish kronor ($1.718 million).

Last year, the prize went to three scientists researching the immune system.

Monday's medicine prize is followed by the physics prize on Tuesday, chemistry on Wednesday and literature on Thursday, local time.

After Friday's peace prize is awarded, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences will be announced on October 12.