Brain implants

[davlet]

Isn't this cool?

Brain implant a step toward improving life for paralysed

Alex Dominguex
The Ottawa Citizen

Thursday, March 14, 2002


A monkey with a fingernail-size brain implant moved a cursor on a computer screen just by thinking -- the latest in a series of experiments that are raising hopes that paralysed people might one day be able to control complex devices with their minds.

While humans have already been implanted with a similar device that allows control of a cursor, the set of thin wires used by the Brown University researchers is less bulky and worked by measuring fewer neurons.

Three rhesus monkeys were given the implants, which were first used to record signals from their motor cortex -- an area of the brain that controls movement -- as they manipulated a joystick with their hands. Then those signals were used to develop a program enabling one of the monkeys to continue moving the cursor with its brain.

During dozens of trials, the monkey moved the cursor just by thinking and used it to touch dots that appeared on the screen, earning orange juice as a reward, said John Donoghue, chairman of neuroscience at Brown.

The results are promising enough that the device could one day be used on humans, the researchers reported in today's issue of the journal Nature. They would not speculate on how long that might take.

Anything that can be controlled with two- or three-dimensional co-ordinates can be controlled by similar implants, Mr. Donoghue said.

In 1998, researchers at Emory University reported a paralysed man was able to control a cursor with a cone-shaped glass implant, using it to run a voice synthesizer that let him communicate.

The key advance in the Brown study is that the researchers were able to use fewer neurons -- between seven and 30 -- to control the cursor.

[jutka]

Yes, I saw this too. Neuroscience is my favourite field of all the sciences.

[-JO-]

You might be interested in my dear pentagon letter, havn't sent it yet. I've been busy.
-Jo-






Operation- TeddyBear7

Dear Pentagon,


Startrek’s “the Borge” might not be so far into fiction. In recent technological breakthrough’s doctors have been able to use a computer that read human brain signals and through that process the human was able to move a mouse on a computer with his mere thoughts. Though the process was not quick or his control complex, but this display linked the brain directly to a computer. We know if information can go one way, it’s only so long until it can go the another. Having a computer relaying messages to the brain could range from anything from information implantations to “direct mind control.” You could go as far as to link each computer to a mainframe, that mainframe in turn would control each man-machine. The mind would be one logical and efficient being. It would sacrifice a pawn to save the king. To be linked to a mainframe it would need a satellite or a controlled frequency that would not be disturbed. The man-machines could operate with the eyes of thousands with the site of aerial photos, with the ability to request air support without “requesting”. The mainframe could learn from one death to prevent the next. The Mainframe would be the perfect fighting force. In theory a mere thousand-man army could take down a nation’s army in a year. With cloning now a reality, each soldier could be made of the most elite bodies, ones kept up by vigorous computer analysis and daily exercise, which is never missed. With a simple funding of five billion dollars, I could build for you an army unparallel and unmatched in the modern world, an unemotional, fully strengthened, and overly intellectual army. I would estimate 10 years to get the technology at a sufficient strength and another 10 to 15 years if you want an elite cloned army. We’re talking the creation of “A Perfect Army.” When you decide that “TeddyBear7” is the way of the future you may contact me and I can answer any questions you may have. I look forward to working with you.

Originally posted by -JO-
You might be interested in my dear pentagon letter, havn't sent it yet. I've been busy.
-Jo-






Operation- TeddyBear7

Dear Pentagon,


Startrek’s “the Borge” might not be so far into fiction. In recent technological breakthrough’s doctors have been able to use a computer that read human brain signals and through that process the human was able to move a mouse on a computer with his mere thoughts. Though the process was not quick or his control complex, but this display linked the brain directly to a computer. We know if information can go one way, it’s only so long until it can go the another. Having a computer relaying messages to the brain could range from anything from information implantations to “direct mind control.” You could go as far as to link each computer to a mainframe, that mainframe in turn would control each man-machine. The mind would be one logical and efficient being. It would sacrifice a pawn to save the king. To be linked to a mainframe it would need a satellite or a controlled frequency that would not be disturbed. The man-machines could operate with the eyes of thousands with the site of aerial photos, with the ability to request air support without “requesting”. The mainframe could learn from one death to prevent the next. The Mainframe would be the perfect fighting force. In theory a mere thousand-man army could take down a nation’s army in a year. With cloning now a reality, each soldier could be made of the most elite bodies, ones kept up by vigorous computer analysis and daily exercise, which is never missed. With a simple funding of five billion dollars, I could build for you an army unparallel and unmatched in the modern world, an unemotional, fully strengthened, and overly intellectual army. I would estimate 10 years to get the technology at a sufficient strength and another 10 to 15 years if you want an elite cloned army. We’re talking the creation of “A Perfect Army.” When you decide that “TeddyBear7” is the way of the future you may contact me and I can answer any questions you may have. I look forward to working with you.

May I suggest you turn your formidable talents upon improving the policies under which such a fighting force would be deployed as well, comrade? Is an unemotional and overly intellectual force really an asset on the battlefield? If the army realizes that it is more fit to rule than the government which puts it in harm's way, what usually happens? Why would a "Perfect Army" serve an imperfect state? Who are the pawns and what do they think of this plan? Not much, I would suggest, whoever they may be, particularly if I happen to be one!PEACE,T.

Originally posted by jutka
Yes, I saw this too. Neuroscience is my favourite field of all the sciences.

I heard the fascinating tale of a man who consented to have 12 million pig cells injected into his brain to combat the effects of his Parkinson's disease. So far, according to the report, the therapy has been most encouraging. The monitoring will continue for the rest of his life, of course. Will one day the average human cranium be so full of artifacts that there remains no room for the brain which developed them? Will it still be a human cranium at that point? My head hurts, all of a sudden!PEACE,T.

[rikbe]

Originally posted by tovarisch
Will it still be a human cranium at that point? My head hurts, all of a sudden!PEACE,T.

As the average human uses only 10 to 20 percent of his brain capacity, there is plenty room available.

Tova, take note that I did not mention you as example for 10 percent.

or possibly flattened, or even flatulent? OOOOOOOOOH, MY HEAD HURTS!T.