798
8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
armed forces is its feature of improving alertness and wakefulness instead of merely
suppressing tiredness. Other drugs could reduce stress or anxiety and make it thereby
less likely that soldiers will suffer from PTSD at some later point. Roger Pitman from
Harvard University uses the beta-blocker propranolol for suppressing if not deleting
painful memories of veterans [35]. It could be potentially administered to soldiers
before they go into action to prevent the later occurrence of PTSD altogether, which
could potentially lead to less behavioral constraints or more aggressive behavior in
battle.
8.6.3 Brain Stimulation
Psychiatrists have used the electrical stimulation of the brain for treating mental
illnesses since the late nineteenth century. The electroconvulsive therapy, in which
an electrical current is applied to the brain through electrodes, has been widely used
since the 1940s and 1950s and the American Psychiatric Association considers it
to be safe and effective for treating major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar
disorders [36].
Since the early 1980s psychiatrists have developed newer methods for the electrical stimulation of the brain. For example, the transcranial magnetic stimulation
(TMS) method that applies strong electromagnetic fields of thousands of volts
through a helmet-like device above the brain to activate specific brain regions TMS
has shown promise in terms of treating depression and other mental disorders, but
there are still concerns of the safety of the treatment [37]. More recently neuroscience researchers have used TMS for stimulating the motor cortex, which allows
one person in a brain-to-brain interface to remotely control the hand movements
of another person. His experiment was successfully carried out at the University of
Washington in 2013, which could be the first step toward a brain–computer interface
(BCI) and synthetic telepathy [38]. The downside of TMS is that it requires a large
coil and power source, which are difficult to miniaturize and fit into a smaller headset
or helmet. TMS can also not reach deeper regions of the brain.
Other currently researched brain stimulation methods are transcranial direct
current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial pulsed ultrasound stimulation, which
may be suitable for integration into a soldier’s combat helmet. tDCS applies a weak
current through electrodes to the scalp, which has shown to significantly increase
concentration and cognitive capabilities in test subjects [39].
Researchers from Arizona State University are working on a transcranial pulsed
ultrasound device that can be fitted into a helmet and that could be used for controlling
the mental states of soldiers, boosting alertness, and relieving pain from injuries
[40]. The pulsed ultrasound would be also able to reach deeper regions of the brain.
Brain stimulation methods could have numerous benefits in terms of treatment and
enhancement for people across society and the technology could therefore spread
quickly. In fact, there is already a low-cost tDCS (called Focus), which is marketed
as a “gaming device” to improve the concentration of computer gamers.
8 Modern Weapons: Possibilities and Limitations
armed forces is its feature of improving alertness and wakefulness instead of merely
suppressing tiredness. Other drugs could reduce stress or anxiety and make it thereby
less likely that soldiers will suffer from PTSD at some later point. Roger Pitman from
Harvard University uses the beta-blocker propranolol for suppressing if not deleting
painful memories of veterans [35]. It could be potentially administered to soldiers
before they go into action to prevent the later occurrence of PTSD altogether, which
could potentially lead to less behavioral constraints or more aggressive behavior in
battle.
8.6.3 Brain Stimulation
Psychiatrists have used the electrical stimulation of the brain for treating mental
illnesses since the late nineteenth century. The electroconvulsive therapy, in which
an electrical current is applied to the brain through electrodes, has been widely used
since the 1940s and 1950s and the American Psychiatric Association considers it
to be safe and effective for treating major depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar
disorders [36].
Since the early 1980s psychiatrists have developed newer methods for the electrical stimulation of the brain. For example, the transcranial magnetic stimulation
(TMS) method that applies strong electromagnetic fields of thousands of volts
through a helmet-like device above the brain to activate specific brain regions TMS
has shown promise in terms of treating depression and other mental disorders, but
there are still concerns of the safety of the treatment [37]. More recently neuroscience researchers have used TMS for stimulating the motor cortex, which allows
one person in a brain-to-brain interface to remotely control the hand movements
of another person. His experiment was successfully carried out at the University of
Washington in 2013, which could be the first step toward a brain–computer interface
(BCI) and synthetic telepathy [38]. The downside of TMS is that it requires a large
coil and power source, which are difficult to miniaturize and fit into a smaller headset
or helmet. TMS can also not reach deeper regions of the brain.
Other currently researched brain stimulation methods are transcranial direct
current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial pulsed ultrasound stimulation, which
may be suitable for integration into a soldier’s combat helmet. tDCS applies a weak
current through electrodes to the scalp, which has shown to significantly increase
concentration and cognitive capabilities in test subjects [39].
Researchers from Arizona State University are working on a transcranial pulsed
ultrasound device that can be fitted into a helmet and that could be used for controlling
the mental states of soldiers, boosting alertness, and relieving pain from injuries
[40]. The pulsed ultrasound would be also able to reach deeper regions of the brain.
Brain stimulation methods could have numerous benefits in terms of treatment and
enhancement for people across society and the technology could therefore spread
quickly. In fact, there is already a low-cost tDCS (called Focus), which is marketed
as a “gaming device” to improve the concentration of computer gamers.