FDA approves brain implant which autonomously combats seizures

The FDA has approved the NeuroPace RNS Stimulator which is surgically implanted within the skull of patients.  It detects patterns in brain activity before a seizure happens in the patients and responds with brief responsive stimulation to interrupt that brain activity.  29% of patients experienced a 50% drop in seizures after a three month trial and with longer term patients (two years or more) , 55% of patients experienced 50% or more reduction in seizures.  Change of diet and drug therapies are generally the first line of defense as brain surgery of any kind poses risks such as infection.  A similar technique called vagus nerve stimulation already is available but this method doesn't not seek and respond to irregularities.  NeuroPace estimates that about 400,000 patients would benefit from their device.

This device is the first FDA-approved implant that responds to brain activity.  Although still a very young technology, many people can't help to think of the many dystopian science fiction novels where devices that interact with brain stimuli play a major role in the society. Although crazy sounding, illegal US government projects such as Project MKUltra happened which looked at ways to manipulate mental states through a combination of chemicals, torture, deprivation, and hypnosis.  Manipulating technology has been the governments method of subverting legal channels to achieve its goals and in a society where torture is heavily frowned upon, manipulation of brain stimuli doesn't seem too far off.  The NSA is investing heavily into their computing power such as the 2 Billion USD Utah quantum computing center.  Although I doubt the technology is there now , it doesn't seem too far off with the emergence of new computing technologies (graphene computer chips anybody? see my last blog post) and advances in neuroscience that some form of mind control or manipulation could be possible in the not too distant future.

src: http://singularityhub.com/2013/11/27/fda-approves-brain-implant-to-monitor-and-autonomously-respond-to-epileptic-seizures/