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Researchers control brain circuits from a distance using infrared light

43 points by Amorymeltzer 5y ago

dqpb 5y ago
Finally, a reliable way to control large populations of disagreeable people!
sudden_dystopia 5y ago
Fixed this paragraph for you: The tool has the potential to solve one of the biggest unmet needs in authoritarianism: a way to easily control the functions of particular brain cells and circuits deep in the brain during normal behavior — such as citizens freely socializing with one another.
- jerf 5y ago
  This technique requires genetically modifying the neurons to make them sensitive to the beam. Given the way neurons work, it isn't something that would work very well if you tried to apply it as a gene therapy, either. While I fully expect such a thing would be abused by governments, this is not that thing. I also suspect in general this would not prove useful even so. In a lab, where the EM environment can be controlled, it may work great. But there's not much utility to a government to a brain switch that is flipped by going outside in strong sunlight.
  - pyinstallwoes 5y ago
    A not switch leads to universal logic gate needs. All they need is to rely on a flip state to program any state. That’s identical to a current in your example (outside). Which would mean by programming the state inside, they can predictably set the state outside. Bourne engage.
  - nomel 5y ago
    Infrared Neural Stimulation can be used without modifications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26157967/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26157967/ It's somewhat cheating though, since it uses a thermal mechanism.
- pyinstallwoes 5y ago
  They already accomplish that with devices with screens, and your regularly scheduled content governing thought-space at the border of language where the imaginary fence of Sapir-Worf is erected acting as shepherd to possible thoughts and impossible Thoughts.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
EamonnMR 5y ago
This is the kind of paper I'd expect a cartoon supervillain to publish, right before he unveils his mind control ray. I suppose a tinfoil hat would protect you from an IR beam though...
godelski 5y ago
> The newly published technique builds on the foundation laid down by optogenetics, a technique first developed at Stanford by Wu Tsai Neuro affiliate Karl Deisseroth and collaborators that introduces light-sensitive algal proteins into neurons to let researchers turn them on or off in response to different colors of light. To clarify, they have to introduce a new chemical into the brain for this to work. The researchers of this paper introduced a heat sensitive chemical and that allows them to use IR light.
deleted 5y ago
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43 points by Amorymeltzer 5y ago

dqpb 5y ago

Finally, a reliable way to control large populations of disagreeable people!

Fixed this paragraph for you: The tool has the potential to solve one of the biggest unmet needs in authoritarianism: a way to easily control the functions of particular brain cells and circuits deep in the brain during normal behavior — such as citizens freely socializing with one another.

jerf 5y ago
This technique requires genetically modifying the neurons to make them sensitive to the beam. Given the way neurons work, it isn't something that would work very well if you tried to apply it as a gene therapy, either. While I fully expect such a thing would be abused by governments, this is not that thing. I also suspect in general this would not prove useful even so. In a lab, where the EM environment can be controlled, it may work great. But there's not much utility to a government to a brain switch that is flipped by going outside in strong sunlight.
- pyinstallwoes 5y ago
  A not switch leads to universal logic gate needs. All they need is to rely on a flip state to program any state. That’s identical to a current in your example (outside). Which would mean by programming the state inside, they can predictably set the state outside. Bourne engage.
- nomel 5y ago
  Infrared Neural Stimulation can be used without modifications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26157967/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26157967/ It's somewhat cheating though, since it uses a thermal mechanism.
pyinstallwoes 5y ago
They already accomplish that with devices with screens, and your regularly scheduled content governing thought-space at the border of language where the imaginary fence of Sapir-Worf is erected acting as shepherd to possible thoughts and impossible Thoughts.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

EamonnMR 5y ago

This is the kind of paper I'd expect a cartoon supervillain to publish, right before he unveils his mind control ray. I suppose a tinfoil hat would protect you from an IR beam though...

godelski 5y ago

> The newly published technique builds on the foundation laid down by optogenetics, a technique first developed at Stanford by Wu Tsai Neuro affiliate Karl Deisseroth and collaborators that introduces light-sensitive algal proteins into neurons to let researchers turn them on or off in response to different colors of light. To clarify, they have to introduce a new chemical into the brain for this to work. The researchers of this paper introduced a heat sensitive chemical and that allows them to use IR light.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]