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iPlant
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iPlant programming We use the term 'iPlant' to refer to a deep brain stimulation implant that regulates monoamines and the reward system of a human brain. Perhaps the most important benefit of such an implant is that it could be used to generate conditional rewarding brain stimulation. Conditional rewarding brain stimulation has been used to motivate rats to engage in difficult behaviours such as heavy physical exercise (Burgess et al 1991; Garner et al 1991) and problem solving (Hermer-Vasquez et al 2005) and could presumably be used to motivate a wide range of beneficial but difficult behaviours in humans. In other words, iPlants would be used to generate artificial motivation. The deep brain stimulation that is currently applied to the human reward system to treat psychiatric conditions (see Greenberg et al 2008, Schlaepfer et al 2008, Malone et al 2009, Bewernick et al in press) involves constant, weak and high-freuqency electrical current. Conversely, conditional rewarding brain stimulation has typically involved powerful pulses of brief, strong, low-frequency current that are delivered if and only if the subject performs some behavioural task (Burgess et al 1991; Garner et al 1991, Hermer-Vasquez et al 2005). The optimal current parameters and rate of reward for human use is not yet known but should probably be kept as low as possible to prevent addiction (see safety and ethics and the beginning of chapter 1). iPlants would require a robust security routine to prevent unconditional self-stimulation by the user (see safety and ethics). This should not be a problem in a controlled setting such as a hospital, where the operation of the implant could be monitored by doctors and technicians, but would require creative computer-control, encryption and legislation for use outside of the hospital setting.  If effective and reliable conditional rewarding brain stimulation could
be ensured, it could be used to motivate a wide range of beneficial but
difficult behaviours, including:Exercise. Rewarding brain stimulation would be delivered when the user pulls a stroke on a rowing machine, when his/her pressure-sensitive running shoe hits the ground (see figure), for each basket ball through a net, for pushing the pedals of an exercise bike, etc. Given the many health benefits of rigorous exercise, iPlant-driven exercise might be extremely helpful to a wide range of patients who require but fail to engage in physical exercise. It should be noted that deep brain stimulation has already been applied treat human obesity by inhibiting hunger in the hypothalamus (Hamani et al 2008). Learning. Rewarding brain stimulation would be delivered when the user successfully finishes a given exercise or provides correct answers to questions posed by computer tutorial software designed to teach (e.g. algebra, foreign languages). This application would be particularly useful for people suffering from learning difficulties. Indeed, studies show in increased sensitivity to rewarding brain stimulation in rat models of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Johansen & Sagvolden 2005). Research. Many laboratory techniques involve simple, repetitive behaviours. iPlants could therefore be used to motivate reserch by delivering rewarding brain stimulation whenever the user has completed a task, e.g. classified a blot, collected samples from the freezer, pipetted samples onto microarrays, etc. The idea that users who already have iPlants might choose to volunteer a few hours every week to take part in iPlant-driven reserch is explored in chapter 2. If such reserch centres were sufficiently widespread it might allow something we could call biomedical outsourcing - industry, hospitals and academic institutions could request large quantities of data without having to organize and finance the necessary research. A hundred volunteers working four hours per week could save an institution more than a quarter million euro every year and would free scientists up to pursue more challenging tasks. With a sufficient number of volunteers, research would accelerate dramatically, particularly in fields such as biology where much of the practical work is monotonous and requires little or no understanding of the broader purpose of the techniques involved. |
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At the International Neuromodulation Conference in Seoul
(September 2009) Does secularism fuck you up? (pt.2, pt.3) (June 2009) What we need to accelerate biomedical research and fight aging (May 2009) I can has freedom and dignity? (April 2009) Using Medtronic's Reclaim implant to generate artificial motivation (March 2009) Wired-article-induced neuroscience rant (March 2009) Riding a bike (December 2008) How compliant do we want our children to be? (December 2008) Thoughts on forks (December 2008) Aging (November 2008) Brainbeat (October 2008) |
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What the blogs say |
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The iPlant: Making life easier for the lazy?
(June 2009)
Enogamez iPlant (June 2009) Something Awesome iPlant Brain Implant Advocated for Self-Improvement (June 2009) Technovelgy iPlant - the motivational implant (June 2009) Futurismic A prosthetic motivational system (April 2009) Emerging Ideas Self-determination for the 21st century (April 2009) psique The iPlant (May 2008) Brain Stimulant |
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