Brett Daniel Shehadey
Special Contributor for In Homeland Security
Highly cited in the news media has been the direct neural motor control of researcher Andrea Stocco’s finger over the internet by partner Rajesh Rao at the University of Washington. They have labeled this “brain control” but it is really just another variation of brain-computer interfacing (BCI). The sender transmits motive thoughts to a computer operating system, application or electronic device through an EEG cap; which is essentially just electrodes and software that reads and recognizes the unique and individual brain waves and signals of the sender. Such programs often require training.
What is interesting about the press release and unpublished experiment of Rao and Stocco is that the innovation of tapping into another’s brain with thought. Mr. Stocco’s cap was a little different, in that it was not a passive transmitter but electric signals were permitted into his brain from Rao’s. This could have done indirectly through a computer or a person placing the right low electric stimulation in the right place via the same transcranial magnetic stimulator.
If the study holds up, the potential opens a wider range of this growing BCI technology. Harvard Medical Scientists have already had success in controlling a rat’s tail with a similar setup from a human brain. The more immediate applications of this latest study is the direct human-to-human interfacing through these devices.
Many articles reported that Stocco was a passive recipient. Yet electric signals, if connected, would still trigger some muscular response, in this case. But as for authoritarian states thinking that they will hack into their populations brains and control them or capture and retrieve memories, we are a little too early for that. It may be possible with amplified brain waves to control another’s even through resistance and against individual willpower. After all, it was accomplished at moving a rat. Nevertheless, these experiments might be a difficult if done ethically and may involve some brain damage. Complex thoughts are an entirely different matter; and even if brain hacking someone’s central nervous system could be accomplished, it does not mean access to the greater mind.
An example of BCI technology could also allow any American president direct control over the missiles drones that he or she could launch with his mind at any time against America’s enemies. Not the safest policy but that technology actually exists right now. And in the case of Syria, President Obama might be wondering if he could apply the study on Assad, hack into his mind and get him to surrender his massacres and breeches in international law.
Still, governments all around the world will be forced to initiate their programs of social control indirectly for the moment and over time, shaping hearts and minds of people and leaders without the aid of any direct brain control. Hopefully we will not approach the one brain to rule them all doomsday scenario.