IT'S ELECTRIC

BRAIN ENGINEERING WITH DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

- DAMIEN MARTIN

As we learn more about the brain and how it functions, people have tried to harness that awesome power. Some have turned to brain engineering in an attempt to transcend humanity and become cyborgs, merging directly with computer to augment their intelligence. In the medical field, researchers are using brain engineering to try to cure diseases that have long plagued humanity. These can be diseases affecting motor function or mental health, and the results of this research will have farreaching implications for the future of humanity.

DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION

Tens of thousands of people worldwide have a deep brain stimulation implant. The device consists of an insulated wire called a lead that slips through a small hole in the skull and is implanted in the brain, a subcutaneous extension wire connecting the lead to an internal pulse generator (IPG), and the IPG itself, implanted near the collarbone or in the chest or abdomen. The device functions almost like a pacemaker does for the heart, targeting areas of the brain with electrical signals.