A team of South Korean scientists has unveiled a "long-range" device for remote mind control, with plans to use this technology in non-surgical medical procedures. Researchers at the Institute for Basic Science (IBS) developed the device using magnetic fields, naming their invention Nano-MIND, which stands for "Magnetic Nanointerface for Neural Dynamics."
Dr. Chyun Jin-Woo, director of the IBS Nano Medicine Center in South Korea, stated that he anticipates the developed technology will be applied in various healthcare applications, explaining that this is the first technology in the world that can freely control specific areas of the brain using magnetic fields. He added: "We expect it to be widely used in research to understand brain functions, sophisticated neural networks, bi-directional brain-computer interface technologies, as well as new treatments for neurological disorders."
In this context, Dr. Felix Leroy, a senior scientist at the Spanish Institute of Neuroscience, wrote in an accompanying editorial to the new study published in *Nature Nanotechnology*: "The concept of using magnetic fields to manipulate biological systems is now firmly established." He noted its application in various fields, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), transcranial magnetic stimulation, and magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment.
The IBS team also incorporated gene-editing techniques for specialized nanoparticles, which allow for the selective remote modulation of their role within neurons through carefully chosen magnetic fields. This technique is referred to as "Magnetomechanical Genetics" (MMG).
In the new study, researchers tested the technology on genetically modified mice that developed magnetically sensitive "ion channels," acting as gates in their neurons, allowing certain molecules and atoms to enter at specific times and rates.
In a "maternal instinct" test, the innovative technology encouraged some female mice to locate their missing offspring more quickly (an average of 16 seconds faster). The technology also demonstrated the ability to prompt other mice to overeat or reduce their food intake.
However, Dr. Leroy cautioned against rushing to conduct human trials too early. He advised that "more studies are needed to assess the cumulative potential effects, including neuroadaptation or neurotoxicity."
