They used a burst of magnetic pulses called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) – produced by coils held over the scalp – to temporarily shut off activity in the DLPFC. Now, when faced with the opportunity to spitefully reject a cheeky low cash offer, subjects were actually more likely to take the money.
Erm. Hold on there. Influencing thoughts using ElectroMagnetic fields? Asimov's mentalic robots are closer than we think.
"I would also really like to caution against the type of logic that "I don't think they understand the ... enough to make such suggestions." exemplifies. By saying that, one is evaluating the validity of a statement purely on the basis of who said it, and not on what was said.
The idea that people should be restricted only to comments within their own specialties, and leave the thinking to the "experts", is a very dangerous one. If that statement is accepted, the discussion might end right here, since it isn't clear that any of us 'understand enough'.
Discussion still continues though, because there is more to words than authority - there is reason."
Good Evening,
I believe many of you were at tonight's panel. I was particularly struck by Morris Chang's comments about the inevitable stalling of China's economy in the same manner as Taiwan, due to Cultural reasons. I agree with him. I have thought about that question and come to the same conclusion in the past.
It is my hope that we can raise some kind of coherent, rigorous conversation about cultural weaknesses amongst the Taiwanese at MIT. As Wei-Chuan has said, as of right now the organization seems to know only eat-eat-drink-drink, and does little else. There is no conversation and no common consciousness. I would like you to consider the desirability and possibility of change in this aspect.
I do not think that we are bad at having opinions. What's weak is the ability to develop those opinions. There is an excess of the tolerance for relativism, and on important issues disagreeing people seem to be unable to speak to each other. In the absence of meaningful disagreement, agreements are shallow and only joined by coincidence of name, as opposed to some deep generating principle.
There needs to be conversation about more fruitful ways in which to disagree. We need to make the strength and vigor which comes of public conversation available to us. This is something a technical education does not offer by itself - we'll have to work for this one. We must be aware of the dangers of philosophical bankruptcy, how we are wasting many opportunities by neglecting self-examination.
喬綸
1 comment
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) just got FDA approval for major depression. This is the first brain disorder that it has been approved for. Approval for other disorders should follow.
As for mind control, I could see it happening in the future. TMS could allow scientists to activate or deactivate almost any brain area at will. Transcranial direct current stimulation is also being used in a similar manner to TMS.