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Swiss researchers have developed a way to "switch on" specific genes using the power of the mind, the BBC reports.

Their system uses human brainwaves to turn on an infrared light that then activates a gene to start making a protein in specially engineered cells.

The scientists believe the futuristic technology could be used to treat in diseases such as epilepsy.

Their study using mice and people, published in Nature Communications, shows it works in principle.

Mind control ramped up production of a protein in an implant placed under the skin of mice.

The researchers created a genetically engineered cell in which the presence of near infrared light triggered the switching on of a gene and subsequently the production of a protein called SEAP.

They placed the cells in a chamber in a small implant that also contained a wirelessly controlled infrared light and inserted it under the skin of mice.

Volunteers wearing headsets were asked to play a computer game called Mindflex, in which the movement of a ball is controlled by thought.

When they concentrated on the game, their brainwaves turned on a field generator under the mice, switching on the infrared light and initiating the cascade within the implant to generate the SEAP protein.

The protein was able to seep out from the implant into the bloodstream, where it was later measured by the researchers.

Brainwave patterns produced by meditation were also shown to turn on the implant, which could be seen to light up under the skin.