Scientists have been able to conduct “mind control” remotely in an incredible world-first experiment.
Mind control might
seem like something out of science fiction, with possibly the closest
thing we can get to consciously controlling our own minds without
technology being lucid dreaming.
Now, however, an experiment
involving mice has shown how the change of a magnetic field was able to
alter the behaviour of animals fitted with special “switches” inside
their brains.
At the change of the
magnetic field, mice were able to be told to feed, socialise with others
and act with maternal instincts as researchers targeted areas of the
brain associated with these actions.
The technology has
been dubbed “Nano-MIND” and combines genetics, nanoparticles, and
magnetic fields. It allows researchers to remotely activate circuits of
the brain.
To achieve this, ion
channels were integrated into the target areas of brain cells. These ion
channels could be turned on and off remotely, pulling at the
nanoparticles of the brain cells when the magnetic field was active.
Significant
differences in food intake were noted when the mice were in and outside
of the magnetic field, suggesting that the desire to feed could be
manipulated remotely.
It is hoped
the groundbreaking technology could provide future treatments for
disorders that affect emotions, social behaviours and appetite.
Jinwoo Cheon, senior
author and director of the IBS Center for Nanomedicine, explained: “This
is the world’s first technology to freely control specific brain
regions using magnetic fields.”
They continued: “We
expect it to be widely used in research to understand brain functions,
sophisticated artificial neural networks, two-way brain-computer
interface (BCI) technologies, and new treatments for neurological
disorders.”...<<<Read More>>>....