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MIT Shows How to Shut Down Brain With Light

Posted by samzenpus on from the men-in-black dept.

An anonymous reader writes "The MIT home-page story today is about a way to use light to shut down brain activity. "Scientists at the MIT Media Lab have invented a way to reversibly silence brain cells using pulses of yellow light, offering the prospect of controlling the haywire neuron activity that occurs in diseases such as epilepsy and Parkinson's disease."

18 of 223 comments (clear)

  1. There are easier ways by joe_cot · · Score: 5, Funny

    There are easier ways to shut down brain activity. 4chan comes to mind.

    1. Re:There are easier ways by drwiii · · Score: 5, Funny

      Rule 1 violation.

  2. Who wants to bet... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...that this is actually a plan to invent the Neuralizer from Men in Black?

  3. Finally! by Steve--Balllmer · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... a scientific reason why we /.ers should not leave the darkness of our parents' basements and our computer monitors, and continue to avoid the dreaded realm known as "outside".

  4. does it come in an ale? by User+956 · · Score: 4, Funny

    The MIT home-page story today is about a way to use light to shut down brain activity.

    Well, I guess that's cheaper than alcohol.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
  5. Politics by nagora · · Score: 5, Funny

    Expect to see a lot of yellow lights at party rallies from now on...

    --
    "Encyclopedia" is to "Wikipedia" what "Library" is to "Some people at a bus stop"
  6. Makes sense by gaderael · · Score: 2, Funny

    Considering certain patterns of light, as found in some video games, for example, have the ability to bring about seizures and people the suffer from Epilepsy, it makes sanse that certain patterns of light would also be able to reverse that effect.

    --
    Anyone got a light for my sig?
    1. Re:Makes sense by Shrubber · · Score: 3, Funny

      Considering certain patterns of falling boulders, as found on some mountains, for example, have the ability to bring death and people the suffer from Epilepsy (sic!). it makes sanse that certain patterns of falling boulders would also be able to reverse that effect.
      Obviously. It's already been proven in cartoons time and time again that if something falling on your head causes amnesia or a personality change that additional impact to your head will cure it. In the case of personality change you may need to apply such force several times as you may simply trigger alternate personalities instead, but you can repeat until satisfied.
  7. Hooray! by mikkelm · · Score: 5, Funny

    Finally I can get a pair of tinfoil shades to go with my hat.

  8. I, for one... by bwd234 · · Score: 3, Funny

    welcome our new yellow light emitting overlords!

  9. Damn yellowish incandescents. by SeaFox · · Score: 2, Funny

    Scientists at the MIT Media Lab have invented a way to reversibly silence brain cells using pulses of yellow light

    Yet another reason CFLs are better!
  10. Another ,,, by BlueTrin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Another sexist topic about blonde girls !

    --
    Don't you know it is now both immoral and criminal to think beyond the next quarterly report?
  11. Re:It's about brain implants for research purposes by ogma · · Score: 3, Funny

    "This study is great ... instead of operating on 1000's of rabbits ... they can do heaps of studies on just one rabbit"

    Unless you're that one rabbit!

  12. Re:It's about brain implants for research purposes by bobscealy · · Score: 4, Funny

    Did anyone read TFA?



    You ain't from round here, are you boy?

  13. belonging by Stooshie · · Score: 2, Funny

    All your neuron are belong to us!

    --
    America, Home of the Brave. ... .and the Squaw.
  14. If yellow light shuts down brain cells... by SethHoyt · · Score: 5, Funny

    Could this explain why when a traffic light turns yellow, nobody seems to notice it?

  15. We already knew this by TomatoMan · · Score: 3, Funny

    TV has been shutting all of our brains down for decades.

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    -- http://frobnosticate.com
  16. Works on drivers by Frank+T.+Lofaro+Jr. · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yellow light shuts down brain activity in the drivers here in Nevada quite well.

    Makes them forget that a yellow light means "go slow", not "go really really really fast".

    --
    Just because it CAN be done, doesn't mean it should!