Successful experiment to control the brain with a magnet and make it "happy feeling"

ByNew 1lluminati

Using a magnet to control the specific circuit of the brain, "Happy feelingsScientists at the University of Virginia succeeded in drawing out.

Magnetic mind control works in live animals, makes mice happy | Ars Technica
http://arstechnica.com/science/2016/03/magnetic-mind-control-works-in-live-animals-makes-mice-happy/

Nature NeuroscienceAccording to the paper published at the age, stimulating the reward circuit in the brain using invisible power, succeeded in fine-tuning the behavior of the rat by evoking, for example, the experience of delicious meal etc. Was revealed. This "invisible force" is a "magnetic field", by creating a specific magnetic field, a mouse in this magnetic field successfully evokes a past happy experience and uses it So we succeeded in controlling the behavior.

The discovery of this time may be opening a new ground in the study of brain function and dysfunction. Moreover, it seems that there is a possibility of becoming a new treatment for brain disorder etc.

ByWindell Oskay

"To our knowledge, this experimental result is the first demonstration experiment that could control the nervous system using magnetism," said Ali Guler, author of the thesis and biomedical engineer at the University of Virginia. Of course, over the past few years many scientists have been trying to control the specific circuits of the brain, and there were various things that used light signals and drugs.

However, there have been some disadvantages to the methods studied so far. For example, in the case of an optical signal, it is very difficult to emit an optical signal deep into the brain, and it has been told that utility is low. Also, in the case of using drugs, it is possible to reach deep into the brain, but with the time it has the disadvantage that the effect spreads beyond specific circuits.

ByStephen Bowler

In this way, controlling the brain was thought to be very difficult biologically, but if it is a method using a magnetic field, it can instantaneously identify it without affecting the target circuit, It is possible to stimulate the circuit, Mr. Guler insists in the paper.

In the research published this time, experiments using "ion channel" which is the key to construct electric charge for sending a signal to the body through the neural circuit are being carried out. In research, we performed a genetic surgery to fuse the ion channel "TRPV 4", which is known to respond to mechanical pressure, with ferritin, a protein that stores iron, and the hybrid protein born by this is called "Magnite" It is. This is used to confirm that the magnetic field and the cells are reacting, and when the magnets are actually brought close to this magne, the magnets move suddenly and open the ion channel, so that ions flow into the cells It seems that there was a reaction that potential change occurred and brain signals could be skipped.

Furthermore, when this protein called a magnum is injected into zebrafish, which is a model organism of brain development, it turns out that the action may be changed by the magnetic field. Subsequently, the research team conducted experiments using rats with a magnate in their bodies, and Magnito activated by a magnetic field was activated by cells responsive to the neurotransmitter "dopamine", which is deeply involved in the reward system, You can change your happiness to a happy feeling.

Please note that Ars Technica, an overseas news site, reports that this technology may also help with pest control.