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Manipulating the Brain with Magnets

Posted by timothy on from the the-aliens-have-done-to-me-for-years dept.

hackwrench points to this Boston Globe story, writing "Some guy has figured out how to use magnets to disable or enhance part of the brain." And this is on a part of the science spectrum not occupied by Alex Chiu.

4 of 53 comments (clear)

  1. The Truth Machine by Inexile2002 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    While browsing a used bookstore I found a copy of a novel called "The Truth Machine" which I haven't read yet but sounded interesting. Just the implications of being able to force truth and honest under certain situations. I mean, would ANYONE vote for a canditate who refused to subject himself to honesty treatment while in office?

    As scary and twisted the applications of this type of technology could be, I think that the benefits in terms of the direct applications and increased understanding of the brain would be worth it.

    Now, if only we could plug one into the /. Post Comment page and reduce all the troll posts to"In Soviet Russia I'm a pathic looser with too much time on my hands and nothing valuable to say."

  2. End the war on drugs by oren · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Once the technology is out for stimulating the pleasure center in the brain, using this sort of trick, it would be the cheapest, most popular drug ever. Probably made by Sony.
    As a tribute to Larry Niven, they should name it the "WireHead(TM)" after his nickname to the addicts of this "drug". Isn't modern science wonderful?
    I don't want to even think of the potential use of the reverse - directly stimulating the pain center. Shudder.

  3. Re:Cellphones & powerlines by Deagol · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Next you'll be saying that because getting X-rays of your teeth at the dentist doesn't cause cancer, we can all be content to subject ourselves to constant low does of X-rays every day?

    There's a huge difference between the rare large dose of something versus chronic exposure to that same thing.

    --
    Method of processing duck feet
  4. Re:Cellphones & powerlines by Noren · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Constant low doses of X-rays every day, like everyone who lives on Earth?

    Sounds horrifying, but who can be sued for it?

    Unless you can identify a lawsuit target, there's no reason to blame your medical problems on it.