Gaby
Researchers at the Korean Institute for Basic Science (IBS) have announced the creation of the world’s first remote control system for consciousness. This groundbreaking technology manipulates the brain from a distance using magnetic fields. The Daily Mail reported that the technology is intended for use in non-invasive medical procedures.
The scientists have named their invention Nano-MIND, which stands for “Nanomagnetic Genetic Interface for Neurodynamics.” The IBS team has developed specialized nanomaterials that can be genetically engineered to respond to precisely calibrated magnetic fields, allowing for remote control of their effects in brain neurons. This method, officially termed magnetomechanical genetics (MMG), was utilized by the researchers in developing the brain modulation technology.
The team successfully tested the equipment on mice. During the trials, the scientists aimed to stimulate maternal instincts in the test subjects and control their appetite.
How the Research Was Conducted
For their experiments, the researchers used specially bred, genetically modified laboratory mice. These mice had enhanced magnetically sensitive ion channels that act as gates in their neurons, allowing specific molecules and atoms to enter at designated times and speeds.
In a group test focused on maternal instincts, MMG stimulation of certain female laboratory rats prompted them to locate their lost pups more quickly in a maze. The stimulated female rodents found their young an average of 16 seconds faster and swiftly gathered them up.
The team also conducted a two-week experiment with control and experimental groups of mice to determine how these genetically modified animals would respond to Nano-MIND’s magnetic impulses, which encouraged them to eat more or less. It turned out that the technology could easily induce overeating or under-eating. In the experiment where MMG signals prompted the mice to eat more, their body weight increased by an average of 7.5 grams, or about 18 percent. Conversely, when a group of rodents was exposed to magnetic fields aimed at reducing appetite, each mouse lost 10 percent of its weight, approximately 4.3 grams.
What Do the Developers and Experts Think?
“This is the world’s first technology that allows for free control of specific areas of the brain using magnetic fields,” said Professor Chung Jin-Woo, director of the Nanomedicine Center at IBS and a key figure behind the new project.
He believes the new equipment will be utilized across various healthcare sectors where it is critically needed.
“We expect this system to be widely applied in research aimed at understanding brain functions, complex artificial neural networks, brain-computer interface technologies, and new methods for treating neurological disorders,” the professor stated.
However, despite the science-fiction nature of remote consciousness control, healthcare experts note that magnetic fields have been successfully used for medical purposes for several decades. “The concept of using magnetic fields to control biological systems is well established,” commented Dr. Felix Leroy, a senior researcher at the Institute of Neurology in Spain.
In his article about the Nano-MIND innovation, which involved genetic modification in mice, Dr. Leroy cautioned the technology developers against rushing to test it on humans. The research results were published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
