Researcher Implants Laser-Activated Brain Cells

destinyland writes "A Stanford researcher has spliced light-sensitive algae genes into human brain cells to fire neurons when activated by a laser. Light is shined through an implanted fiber optic cable (blue light on, yellow light off), and the procedure can target very specific deep brain structures too fragile for most surgery. 'Once the researcher attaches the other end of the cable to a laser, he or she has absolute and flawless control over that group of neurons.' Science writer Quinn Norton cites it as a first attempt at 'building useful handles on the very things that make us ourselves.'"

Let me guess

[Anonymous Coward]

Researcher Implants Laser-Activated Brain Cells

... in a shark?

Tinfoil glasses?

[basementman]

So I need to get tinfoil glasses now too so the government can't control my mind? How do you expect those of us that believe in conspiracy theories to see UFOs? Sounds shady.

Noodly Appendages

[Kratisto]

Exactly. The further science comes, the closer scientists will be to proving the existence of the Flying Spaghetti Monster: The source of creation, consciousness, and morality. Finally, we can have world peace when the people of Earth are united in worship of the one, true God.

Zombie armies

[syousef]

I have this mental image of a bunch of soldiers with sets of remotely controlled optical fibers hanging out of their head. For some reason in this image they're all kind of grey like something out of Edward Scissorhands or perhaps The Matrix, or maybe The Borg from Startrek....and the best bit is that the guy controlling them is doing it with an r/c aircraft radio. "Crush, kill, destroy, my pets!". Wait, I think someone has implanted MY brain with Hollywood crap. They did it the old fashioned way though - tv brainwashing.

Re:Laser Heads

[oneirophrenos]

Like with all drugs that activate the nucleus accumbens, you'd develop tolerance. Soon even the largest laser doses wouldn't suffice, and you'd become a laser addict, roaming the streets, rummaging through trash containers, trying to find old CD drives to get your laser fix. Is that really the kind of life you want for yourself?

Some pics

[aztektum]

Here's a pic [blogspot.com] of the subject hooked up to the machine.

Re:Laser Heads

[bughunter]

Yea, coherent light would become a controlled substance. Wicked Lasers would be contraband. Laser junkies would be hanging around the NIF, begging for spare photons. It wouldn't be pretty.

So, thanks for the foresight. I'll have them run a copper wire alongside my fiber, just in case.

Re:So....

[The Archon V2.0]

So, how do they get the laser beam through the person's thick skull to shine on these light sensitive cells?

AWESOME! My major in trepanation will finally come in handy! Just let me warm up my drill and I'll be coasting through this recession on the cutting edge of science, baby!

Now we know how the mind control lasers work.

[Ungrounded Lightning]

And why the operators are called "illuminati". B-)

This isn't good...

[Kid Zero]

everyone will become light headed.