UC San Diego researchers have pioneered Graphene-Mediated Optical Stimulation (GraMOS), a novel technique using light to activate and mature neurons grown on graphene-coated substrates. The method induces rapid ion currents without genetic modification or cytotoxic effects, demonstrated in rodent neurons and human brain organoids, enhancing their maturity and electrophysiological activity. This approach offers a minimally invasive, scalable tool for spatiotemporal neural control applicable to neuroscience research and potential neurotherapeutic strategies.