From: Alex Ramonsky (alex@ramonsky.com)
Date: Tue Jul 01 2003 - 03:22:11 MDT
Gary Miller wrote:
>Is TMS yet capable of direct activation of pleasure centers of
>the brain either by triggering endorphin release or bypassing
>endorphins and acting directly and activating the same pleasure centers
>that endorphins do?
>
There are much easier ways to do that than with TMS, so it's not
something I've focussed on. I tend to try to find the gentlest way to do
things wherever possible, being, by nature, a bit of a wimp.
> If wouldn't this obsolete recreational drugs and be
>Of great potential in fighting other forms of drug and alchohol
>addiction?
>
Yes and no; although the effects of TMS as treatment for, say,
depression for example, only last for a short while, side effects are
rare enough to make it worthwhile despite the need for repetitive
treatments. There are a lot of different _reasons_ for depression (and
addiction,) however, and TMS treatment has to treat the cause, not the
symptom, to be of any real use. Otherwise, if recreational drug users
could get the same 'high' from TMS without the side effects of drugs,
they too would not mind the need for repetitive 'treatments'. In fact,
it could be a lot more addictive than drugs, if it weren't for the
infernal noise (imagine the Zip drive's 'Click of Death' at about
100db) and the fact that it won't fit in your bag if you wanna go down
the disco. Oh, and your 'leccy bill.
>
>Also can memorys be selectively reactivated. I have heard stories of
>old
>Memories long thought lost being reactivated during brain surgury. If
>so how
>does one go about developing a map?
>
I'm sorry, I wouldn't touch that one with a twenty foot bargepole : )
...No, okay, I would, but only to say that most people's view of
'memory' is not quite the reality of what is going on...I _don't_ want
to start another 'simulation' argument in any way but from my point of
view 'memory' is a simulation anyway. It isn't a constant, but changes
every time you use it. The validity of any memory, 'reactivated' or
otherwise, is highly suspect unless it can be checked against verifiable
facts.
AR
>
>
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