Happiness Is A Warm Electrode

sufijazz writes "A story by Gregory Mone on the Popular Science website talks about trials to use deep brain stimulation to cure chronic depression. It's a deeper exploration of the 'brain pacemaker' discussed here on the site before, and a practical application of research discussed even earlier. Why the pulses affect mood is still unclear, but scientists believe that they may facilitate chemical communication between brain cells, possibly by forcing ions through nerve fibers called axons. In turn, this may trigger the release of mood-regulating chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine. Similar trials are being conducted in other places. Exact numbers are hard to ascertain, but it's estimated that fewer than 50 patients in North America are walking around with wires in their brain."

sounds familiar

[User 956]

Why the pulses affect mood is still unclear, but scientists believe that they may facilitate chemical communication between brain cells, possibly by forcing ions through nerve fibers called axons.

Isn't that the same way World of Warcraft works?

it's both

[User 956]

Happiness Is A Warm Electrode

Hmm, I always thought that happiness was a warm gun.

It's actually both, which means, logically, that happiness is a taser. [dailymail.co.uk]

heh.

[apodyopsis]

the rise of the wirehead!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirehead [wikipedia.org]

Let the probing begin!

[Anonymous Coward]

Now I know why I've been happier since I was abducted. Oh wait, this is about a brain probe...

Citizen

[Colin Smith]

"You are now a class three citizen, your happiness level will be raised accordingly."
 

Re:Happiness is a Warm Gun

[dkleinsc]

Well, I've always liked the Russian answer to happiness:
"You come home from work, are sitting in your broken-down chair reading Pravda, when three men in badly-fitting suits knock on your door.
'Mr Voyslatovich?'
'No, he lives 3 floors up.'"

Well, if we're just limiting it to reality...

[unitron]

...it's estimated that fewer than 50 patients in North America are walking around with wires in their brain."

Yeah, but I bet there's a much bigger number who think that they are!

Forbidden in Alabama?

[kanweg]

I presume that women are not allowed to have such wires in Alabama.

http://sexinthepublicsquare.wordpress.com/2007/02/15/q-when-is-a-vibrator-more-dangerous-than-a-gun/ [wordpress.com]

Bert
Who still wonders how Americans can sing about "home of the free"