dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse

This website has run out of funding so feel free to contribute if you can afford it (see footer)

Author Topic: Tiny brain implant delivers drugs with a remote control  (Read 8477 times)

Offline smfadmin (OP)

  • SMF (internal) Site
  • Administrator
  • Jr. Member
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Location: Management
  • Posts: 133
  • Reputation Power: 0
  • smfadmin has hidden their reputation power
  • Last Login:October 29, 2023, 06:02:36 AM
  • Supplied Install Member
Tiny brain implant delivers drugs with a remote control
« on: July 20, 2015, 01:57:53 PM »
http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/19/tiny-brain-implant-delivers-drugs-with-a-remote-control/

Tiny brain implant delivers drugs with a remote control

An implant, the size of a human hair, can deliver drugs to the brain with the click of a button. A team of researchers from Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Illinois have demonstrated the wireless technology in mice. While a previous iteration of the device delivered LED to neurons that respond to light, the latest experiment successfully introduced pharmacological agents directly to the brain. A drug was first sent to one side of the brain that made a mouse move around in a circle. Next, shining a light onto cells that cue the release of dopamine rewarded the mice with happy feelings. When the rodents came around for more, the researchers used a remote control to interject with a drug that put a halt on the dopamine effect.

Previous experiments required that drugs or other compounds be delivered while the animals were tethered to tubes. But the mice in this particular demonstration roamed free (in a maze) while the drugs were carried wirelessly to the brain. "We've designed it to exploit infrared technology, similar to that used in a TV remote," Jordan McCall, a graduate student at the lab said in a statement. "If we want to influence an animal's behavior with light or with a particular drug, we can simply point the remote at the animal and press a button."

This remote-controlled technology, for now restricted to lab animals, has a specific purpose. Over time it might be used to treat depression or epilepsy by directly targeting specific parts of the human brain with therapies. The soft implant is designed to fit in with the rest of the brain tissue so it can stay lodged for a long time without causing inflammation or damage.
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
measure twice, cut once

Offline Narkotikon

  • Honest
  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • SA_Chat+
  • **
  • Join Date: Jun 2015
  • Location: USA
  • Posts: 1141
  • Reputation Power: 50
  • Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.Narkotikon has got loads of potential.
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:March 28, 2016, 11:31:11 PM
  • Keeping Them Honest
Re: Tiny brain implant delivers drugs with a remote control
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2015, 05:05:44 PM »
This reminds me of a video shown in a psychobiology class I took in college.

The class was about drugs, and the professor showed a clip of a 1950's housewife who had an electrode implanted in her brain.  It was designed to send an electrical charge into her pleasure center, causing a release of dopamine.  I forget why she had it implanted.  Perhaps for depression, or perhaps just for a lab experiment. 

When they were interviewing her on camera, she pressed the button on her remote (a wired remote--she basically had a wire sticking out of her head, leading to a remote she controlled) every two-three seconds.  You could tell she was addicted to the pleasure.  When asked what she felt, she said it was a "sexy" button.  LOL. 

I think this type of research is great.  I'm not sure I'd want a patient controlling this device like that lady in the film though.  Maybe if it were like a PCA pump, where a lockout is in place.  If it were controlled, it would be great for a variety of conditions like epilepsy, depression, anxiety, etc.
friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
Transparency is necessary to ensure decent staff members get elected. Members need to know when staff are misbehaving, so members can be informed voters.

Offline Chip

  • Server Admin
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Administrator
  • *****
  • Join Date: Dec 2014
  • Location: Australia
  • Posts: 6648
  • Reputation Power: 0
  • Chip has hidden their reputation power
  • Gender: Male
  • Last Login:Today at 05:53:23 PM
  • Deeply Confused Learner
  • Profession: IT Engineer
Re: Tiny brain implant delivers drugs with a remote control
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2015, 07:57:08 PM »
i imagine having a "bunch of 'em", each one representing my favorite drug across many genres.

no more eating, drinking, smoking, injecting etc. - just a sophisticated console.

brave new world stuff.

friendly
0
funny
0
informative
0
agree
0
disagree
0
like
0
dislike
0
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
No reactions
Our Discord Server invitation link is https://discord.gg/jB2qmRrxyD

Tags:
 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
0 Replies
7694 Views
Last post July 27, 2015, 09:11:48 PM
by smfadmin
14 Replies
2793 Views
Last post January 15, 2016, 06:43:50 PM
by Sand and Water
20 Replies
16055 Views
Last post February 06, 2016, 06:31:03 AM
by Zoops
6 Replies
7347 Views
Last post May 30, 2016, 11:33:49 AM
by Griffin
0 Replies
4982 Views
Last post August 23, 2016, 09:24:56 PM
by Chip
4 Replies
6373 Views
Last post February 03, 2018, 05:20:29 PM
by DreamerOnTheRun
0 Replies
3776 Views
Last post July 04, 2019, 10:18:19 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
3191 Views
Last post July 09, 2019, 04:59:12 AM
by Chip
0 Replies
2936 Views
Last post May 30, 2021, 06:38:27 PM
by Chip
0 Replies
4558 Views
Last post September 25, 2023, 08:49:05 PM
by Chip


dopetalk does not endorse any advertised product nor does it accept any liability for it's use or misuse





TERMS AND CONDITIONS

In no event will d&u or any person involved in creating, producing, or distributing site information be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, special or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability to use d&u. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless d&u, its domain founders, sponsors, maintainers, server administrators, volunteers and contributors from and against all liability, claims, damages, costs and expenses, including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from the use of any part of the d&u site.


TO USE THIS WEBSITE YOU MUST AGREE TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOVE


Founded December 2014
SimplePortal 2.3.6 © 2008-2014, SimplePortal