| Funded by a special grant offered by the | | | | treatment regimen for those suffering |
| Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Research | | | | from many of today's emotional problems. |
| on Human Development, Dr. Robert Boyle | | | | It has been a long journey to begin the |
| and Dr. Issac Potter began doing | | | | daunting task of understanding the |
| clinical research to understand the | | | | influences governing brain development, |
| underlying causes of behavioral and | | | | however, we our making great strides." |
| emotional disorders in children, | | | | The pair of researchers having completed |
| adolescents as well as adults. This | | | | their work with behavioral and emotional |
| research included the use of neurobics | | | | disorders continued to collaborate and |
| on depressed and attention deficit | | | | are currently developing a new direct |
| disordered patients. "Brain cells learn | | | | neural interface which will be used to |
| by literally making new connections with | | | | connect the human brain to a computer. |
| one another. For a long time, it was | | | | "The neural interface will communicate |
| assumed that these connections could | | | | through an artificial neural network by |
| only be established during youth. But | | | | infrared data transmission". Dr Boyle |
| new scientific evidence shows the | | | | also explains that this new research, |
| opposite: Even quite late in life, the | | | | although considered by some |
| brain has quite a lot of residual | | | | controversial, "can quickly be used for |
| capacity to reorganize and "rewire" | | | | treating illness and disability |
| itself" Dr. Boyle Explains. "This is | | | | experienced by everyday people". He |
| because most of area of our brain is | | | | continues, "Like any new technology, |
| devoted to processing sensory inputs, we | | | | neurotechnology represents both promises |
| felt that this was a unique way to | | | | and problems. On the upside, |
| tackle these emotional problems". | | | | neurotechnology represents new cures for |
| Neurobics are based upon the latest | | | | mental illness, new opportunities for |
| scientific research from leading | | | | economic growth and a potential |
| neurobiology labs around the world. | | | | flowering of artistic expression. These |
| These mental exercises were developed to | | | | benefits are countered by the potential |
| use the full range of senses which can | | | | use of neurotechnology for coercive |
| often be marginalized by modern | | | | purposes such as mind control, or its |
| conveniences. This stimulus helps to | | | | use as neuroweapons that can selectively |
| forge new connections among the | | | | erase or implant memories. Of course |
| different sensory structures of the | | | | there are very stringent guidelines that |
| brain thus increasing ones abilities to | | | | we must follow and our research is |
| concentrate and focus. Dr. Potter | | | | primarily focused on the more beneficial |
| contends that "this breakthrough will | | | | aspects. |
| undoubtedly one day take form of a new | | | | |