Mind control: Toronto doctors regulate patients’ brains REMOTELY using Electrode Stimulation

Electrode stimulation is at the center of this story from Toronto, where doctors regulate patients’ brains remotely. In the scene it describes, Fasano tweaks the level of stimulation from the electrode in the right hemisphere of Luke’s brain with a couple of clicks. Luke quickly starts shaking, and his left foot is tapping up and down involuntarily.

With another tweak, his foot is back firmly on the ground. The short-term hope, according to Fasano and his colleague, neurosurgeon Dr. Suneil Kalia, is that patients will be able keep a digital diary of their symptoms. Physicians can match that diary up to the ongoing log of their brain activity.

“Physicians can later look at that brain diary to see when symptoms were severe or better and fine-tune their therapy,” Kalia said.

For background, learn more about deep brain stimulation on Wikipedia.

Key takeaways on electrode stimulation

• Fasano tweaks the level of stimulation from the electrode in the right hemisphere of Luke’s brain.
• Luke starts shaking, and his left foot taps up and down involuntarily.
• Another tweak puts his foot back firmly on the ground.
• The short-term hope is a digital diary of symptoms matched to a log of brain activity.
• Kalia said physicians can use that brain diary to fine-tune therapy.

Related reading on Creative Geniusess

If you want more on this topic, these articles are a good next step.

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