Sonogenetics
It may sound like science fiction, but researchers at the Salk Institute and UC San Diego may have found a way to control the billions of neurons in our brain using ultrasound.
Through this approach called sonogenetics, they were able to activate specific brain cells in roundworms and influence their movements. The ability to manipulate neurons can give us more insight on brain circuits that may be associated with certain neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.
Since ultrasonic waves can penetrate into deeper regions of the brain without disturbing other tissues and doesn’t require surgical implants, the procedure could help develop new and less invasive treatments for diseases. And there’s also the potential that sonogenetics may be used to control other types of cells in the body.
Thus far the technique has only been tested on animals, so researchers first need to develop safe ways to deliver ultrasound-sensitive channels to target cells in order for the technique to be used in humans.
PR:
http://www.salk.edu/news/pressrelease_details.php?press_id=2110
#neuroscience #sonogenetics #brain #research
Interesting, but frightening at the same time. I can imagine this in a story about a clandestine corporation or government controlling people in some dystopian future. Human puppeteering or brainwashing
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like science fiction, but circa 1950. Picture a mad scientist in a white coat strapping down a victim in a chair surrounded by large, gaudy parabolic speakers. 'Und now you will tell me everyzing I vish to know..."
ReplyDeleteWith a hairless cat or a dog with bloodshot eyes?
ReplyDeleteGotta love nonsense of the people.
ReplyDeleteThe conspiration idea always baffles me...however I love when people believe all the shit in the world, more opportunities for craniotomies and lobotomies.
Conspiracy theories can be damaging for progress, I think it mostly comes down to not understanding and/or having a closed mind. 'Chemtrails' and fluoridation are other ones I see pop up sometimes ('dumbing down' the general population through chemical brainwashing)
ReplyDeleteWe'll end up with helmets, subcutaneous ones perhaps. that will use a cocktail of waves to synapse to our brains. Briefly reading the news, I envisioned ultrasound remote-controlled roundworms to serve surgical purposes, but then I can't imagine ultrasounds tracking the 302 neurons of a roundworm while the latter operates inside a human brain with tens of billions neurons of its own;-)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a Goa'uld from Stargate controlled by Magneto
ReplyDeleteBrainwashing/puppeteering is already there and always has been, is my assumption. The topic of the post is frontline in the orthogonal dimension of interface channel design. By precaution, a catastrophic exploitation of progress in this orthogonal dimension by the evil forces of puppet-masters should be feared... but then, fear is gold to the classical brainwasher...
ReplyDeleteUque e iso que nojento
ReplyDeleteBrainwashing is and has been with us for years and years !!! Adderall, antidepressants , ssnris,ssris, lol lets start giving out 5hour energys, along with 5 hour dopamine drinks and 5 hour seretonin reuptake drinks,(let's procreate happiness , energy , strength, and lastly motivation in a btl to become more real !!! Lol what ????lets take away pain sadness and feeling altogether we could become Honda engines that never stop !!!! How's that for balance ? So sad
ReplyDelete