If it were offered, would you consent to having a chip implanted in your brain to relieve symptoms of PTSD or depression?
These chips, called smart implants, may be available in a few years. The research is taking place at Massachusetts General Hospital, funded by the federal Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA.
The DARPA research specifically addresses the psychological issues faced by many returning veterans such as depression, PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, and substance abuse.
Why The Implants Are Smart
Current brain stimulation devices (DBS), frequently implanted to stop Parkinson’s tremors, have an open-loop design. Smart implants will operate as closed-loop systems.
- Open-loop implants are placed in areas of the brain associated with abnormal neurological activity. Once activated they remain on, continuously altering brain activity in that area.
- Closed-loop implants continually monitor neurological activity, but only alter brain activity when problematic patterns are detected.
To create a device that discerns brain patterns, scientists are analyzing patterns of neurological activity in various brain regions and linking the patterns to human expressions and behavior. The smart implant will relieve symptoms by modulating brain patterns associated with symptomatic behaviors and expressions.
Smart Implant Design
Smart implants will need to function 24/7 using less power than an iPhone. The current prototype, about the size of a matchbox, is a “hub-and-spoke design.”
The implanted hub is situated flush with the scalp. It houses a microprocessor plus a battery that recharges through the skin. The spokes are actually five satellite electrodes that pick up signals from different parts of the brain and modulate abnormal brain patterns when detected. The implant sends its data to a base station that doctors can monitor.
Smart implant human trials will start in three to four years. Initial candidates will most likely be veterans with psychological symptoms that have not responded to medications or psychotherapy. Use of smart implants will eventually be a treatment option for civilians with chronic, persistent psychological symptoms.
Source: Beta Boston
Photo credit: Andrew Mason