Health & Wellbeing

Thought-controlled implant creates proteins on demand

Thought-controlled implant creates proteins on demand
The prototype implant, with its near-infrared LED
The prototype implant, with its near-infrared LED
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The prototype implant, with its near-infrared LED
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The prototype implant, with its near-infrared LED

Wouldn't it be great if there were implants that detected the brainwaves associated with conditions such as chronic headaches or epilepsy, and then responded by triggering genes in the patient's body to produce a protein that treated the condition? Well, scientists at the ETH Zurich research institute are on their way to making it happen. They've developed an implant that causes genetically-modified cells to express a specific protein, and the device is indeed activated by brain waves.

The implant was created by a team led by Prof. Martin Fussenegger, and it incorporates an LED that emits near-infrared light, along with a chamber that contains the cells. When the light comes on, it causes the cells to express a protein known as SEAP – it was chosen because it's very easy to detect.

The implant was tested in human cell cultures, and in mice. It was activated by human volunteers who wore an EEG (electroencephalogram) headset, that monitored the electrical activity in their brain. Those readings were transmitted by Bluetooth to a controller, which in turn activated a field generator located near the implant. The resulting electromagnetic field provided the implant with an induction current, powering its LED.

In both the cultures and the mice, the SEAP diffused from the chamber and into the surrounding tissue – in the mice, it entered and circulated through their bloodstream.

The volunteers were divided into three groups, each of which attempted to activate the device while in a different state of mind. One group, who were concentrating on playing Minecraft while wearing the headset, produced average amounts of SEAP in the mice. Another group, who relaxed their minds via meditation, produced much higher levels.

The third group utilized a bio-feedback approach. They were able to see the implant, and made a conscious effort to illuminate its LED. This resulted in varying amounts of SEAP, depending on the test subject.

"Controlling genes in this way is completely new and is unique in its simplicity," said Fussenegger. He was first inspired to create the technology by a game called Mindflex, in which EEG-wearing players use their thoughts to guide a fan-blown ball through an obstacle course.

A paper on the research was recently published in the journal Nature Communications.

Source: ETH Zurich

3 comments
3 comments
Scion
Wow. This has some amazing potential. Imagine someone who suffers bipolar or depression having their body compensate for their condition through this kind of feedback technology. One of the big problems with depression is that often by the time you realise you are in a depressed state you don't care enough or can't be motivated enough to take the sort of action that will speed the exit from that state. This is particularly true of those who fall into suicidal spells. Once there the sufferer tends to feel their way out of suffering is to die not to go for a jog, meditate and do yoga (for example). Something that could pick up on the mental state then induce the body to create a little more serotonin or dopamine or some complex bundle of hormones would literally be a life saver.
Bob Ehresman
Perhaps a phosphodiesterase inhibitor when you are in the mood?
liui
Or a protein that help you control your blood sugar level