Scientists at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) in South Korea have developed a new way to control the brains of mice by manipulating nanoparticle-activated ‘switches’ in their brains with an external magnetic field.
The system, called Nano-MIND (Magnetogenetic Interface for NeuroDynamics), works by controlling specific brain areas by activating neural circuits.
While this is not the first mind control experiment involving animals, previous approaches have traditionally relied on invasive surgery and bulky external systems that restrict the subjects’ movement, such as Science Alert points out.
“This is the world’s first technology to freely control specific brain areas using magnetic fields,” said Jinwoo Cheon, director of the IBS Center for Nanomedicine and lead author of a new paper published in the magazine Nature Nanotechnologyin a rack about the research.
“We expect it to be widely used in research to understand brain functions, advanced artificial neural networks, two-way technologies (brain-computer interfaces) and new treatments for neurological disorders,” he added.
In experiments, the researchers activated inhibitory neurons in specific brain regions to increase appetite and eating behavior by 100 percent. By stimulating these neurons, the team was able to conversely reduce the food the mice ate by 50 percent.
They also used the system to selectively activate receptors responsible for maternal behavior in the brains of female mice that had not reproduced. By activating these pathways, “the mice significantly increased their nurturing behavior, such as bringing pups to their nest, similar to maternal mice,” according to a press release.
In a third experiment, the researchers succeeded in activating brain areas responsible for stimulating “friendly” behavior. This encouraged mice to interact with other mice in a small room they had never seen before.
The scientists manipulated the neurons by magnetically rotating a small actuator, which attracted or pushed nanoparticles implanted in the mice’s brains.
The research could lay the foundation for new nanotechnology-based treatments for neurological disorders in humans. It could even help in treating depression.
More about mind control: China unveils monkey with brain chip that lets it control robot arm