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A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

singularityhub.com

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Re: A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

#41

Post by bobmichael »

echelon wrote: post #32
sturza wrote: post #28

If we're not in pain, we're not alive.

> If we're not in pain, we're not alive. That's a silly assertion. Pain isn't a hallmark of life--physical, mental, or otherwise. There's no 'merit' to it. There are plenty of organisms without pain receptors that are definitely alive. Pain doesn't correlate with how alive we are or the worth of our lives. Chronic pain sufferers would certainly rather not have pain.

Your assertion is equally as silly though. Pain is not necessary for life, but it definitely has a lot of merit as a survival mechanism and danger signal.

Re: A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

#43

Post by Tarucho »

krm01 wrote: post #10

I wonder how healthy this actually is. Isn’t pain a signal the brain uses to alert you about a detected problem? Just eliminating the sensation of pain could mean your body would be unable to signal an issue that needs to be resolved.

At first I thought the same as you, but for some chronic illnesses as rheumatoid arthritis where there is a lot of pain but no cure, the ability to turn pain on/off as needed (and under proper guidance) is probably something good.

Re: A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

#46

Post by jahabrewer »

letswim420 wrote: post #23
warent wrote: post #3

I always feel so confused by--and skeptical of--these kinds of brain implant technologies. It says: "The chip then automatically triggers a light beam to stimulate the region, activating neurons that can override pain signals." Isn't that potentially stimulating millions or even hundreds of millions of neurons? We don't know what each individual neuron is doing. How is it possible to do this without causing bizarre m…

Don't have access to the PDF but they might be using https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optogenetics This requires genetically engineered mice, which is why they only have this working for mice?

Article specifically says they use optogenetics.

Re: A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

#47

Post by sturza »

sturza wrote: post #28

If we're not in pain, we're not alive.

I think of pain as A signal, not the only one. So, to correct my assertion, i would say that we're not alive with the set of signals we have now. Then i would consider that alive means that we experience the same signals. BUT that means that a blind person is not alive. My initial statement is not accurate now.

Re: A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

#48

Post by BizarroLand »

Retric wrote: post #25
warent wrote: post #3

I always feel so confused by--and skeptical of--these kinds of brain implant technologies. It says: "The chip then automatically triggers a light beam to stimulate the region, activating neurons that can override pain signals." Isn't that potentially stimulating millions or even hundreds of millions of neurons? We don't know what each individual neuron is doing. How is it possible to do this without causing bizarre m…

The brain is far more robust than often assumed. Read up on Anatoli Bugorski for example. He had rather significant brain damage yet there was virtually no damage to his intellectual capacity. He did suffer from seizures after the accident, but that’s about it. These kinds of implants have serious risks including infections etc, but for people with long term chronic pain there are few options.

I've seen a few instances where pain management becomes the overall deciding factor in peoples' day to day life.

"I can't go to work and feed my family because everything hurts so bad" can become a common statement for these people. In addition, addiction to painkillers, spending a huge percentage of your income at compounding pharmacies, and turning to illegal and possibly dangerous drugs to save a buck or to fill the gap between your needs and the insurance companies' coverage are all issues that a non-chemical pain management system like this could solve.

I'm sure it's dangerous and weird to toy with your brain but for many people in America alone the risk would be more than worth the reward.

Re: A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

#49

Post by shkkmo »

BoxOfRain wrote: post #39
papito wrote: post #30

There is a neural disorder where people can't feel pain, and it's hell. You live your life wrapped in protective gear.

I'm sure there's a middle ground between our default level of evolutionary baggage and no pain at all though. I wouldn't mind keeping burns and broken bones being painful, but I'd love to do away with minor annoyances like stinging nettles, wasps, and things like that. Also being able to turn off pain to a specific problematic area would be nice too, I have a permanent headache from a neurological issue and it'd save…

I think the useful distinction is between acute pain, which is generally very useful, and chronic pain, which has huge negative effects with no known upside.

Re: A new brain implant automatically detects and kills pain in real time

#50

Post by Sr_developer »

sturza wrote: post #28

If we're not in pain, we're not alive.

Hell no! Pain is one of the biggest causes of human suffering. Having said that, until something better is "invented" pain is absolutely necessary, all those people who cannot feel or have a high tolerance to pain are always hurting themselves involuntarily. You lose your feedback signal.
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