An iPlant is a brain implant that is in principle no different from today's deep brain stimulation implants, but which has not yet been developed for human use. Fully implemented, the implant would electronically regulate the release of monoamines in the brain, thus giving its user increased control over his or her motivation, mood, learning and creativity. Brain implants like this have been available for non-human animals for decades: by associating rewarding brain stimulation (RBS) with specific behaviours, they have been used to motivate rats and other animals to do heavy exercise (Burgess et al 1991, Garner et al 1991) and solve problems (Hermez-Vasquez et al 2005). Electronic regulation of monoamines could similarly help people perform difficult behaviours like strenuous physical exercise, learning or research (see iPlant programming). iPlants might also offer a more dynamic alternative to pharmacological modulators of monoamines, such as stimulants and antidepressants.
Deep brain stimulation implants are currently used to treat a number of psychiatric conditions by modulating activity in the human reward system. For instance, Medtronic'sReclaim implant, which targets the nucleus accumbens, is CE marked in the EU and FDA approved in the US for obsessive compulsive disorder. iPlants could be implemented using the same technology and surgical procedure, but would involve brief, strong, rewarding current (RBS), rather than the constant, weak, normalizing current that is used at present. A patient-doctor agreement would ensure that RBS was delivered if and only if the patient engaged in pre-specified, beneficial behaviours, such as the use of a rowing machine, an exercise cycle, an e-learning program etc. Artificial motivation by means of conditional RBS is currently the most realistic and interesting application of iPlants.
This website promotes ethical development of iPlants and public awareness and debate about monoamine neuroscience, deep brain stimulation and conditional rewarding brain stimulation. More generally, it explores the prospect of personalized neuromodulation: what happens when human beings acquire increasingly better and more precise technological control over the chemistry of their own brains?
Deep brain stimulation implants are currently used to treat a number of psychiatric conditions by modulating activity in the human reward system. For instance, Medtronic'sReclaim implant, which targets the nucleus accumbens, is CE marked in the EU and FDA approved in the US for obsessive compulsive disorder. iPlants could be implemented using the same technology and surgical procedure, but would involve brief, strong, rewarding current (RBS), rather than the constant, weak, normalizing current that is used at present. A patient-doctor agreement would ensure that RBS was delivered if and only if the patient engaged in pre-specified, beneficial behaviours, such as the use of a rowing machine, an exercise cycle, an e-learning program etc. Artificial motivation by means of conditional RBS is currently the most realistic and interesting application of iPlants.
This website promotes ethical development of iPlants and public awareness and debate about monoamine neuroscience, deep brain stimulation and conditional rewarding brain stimulation. More generally, it explores the prospect of personalized neuromodulation: what happens when human beings acquire increasingly better and more precise technological control over the chemistry of their own brains?
Chris Dean
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