suitably placed electrical pulse can change the druthers of macaques , throwing opened debate about the meaning of barren will .
" In one experimentation , we allowed macaque to choose multiple fourth dimension between two persona - a star or a ball , for example . This told us which of the two visual stimuli they tended to naturally prefer , ” says Professor Vanduffel of Dutch University , KU Leuven . In a 2nd experiment , we stimulated the ventral tegmental area with mild electric current whenever they chose the ab initio nonpreferred effigy . This quickly changed their predilection . We were also able to fake their altered preference back to the original favorite . "
The signals were sent to the small adaxial tegmental area of the midbrain because it is know to modulate learning and producedopamine , all-important to the encephalon ’s reward system of rules . " In this way , this modest region of the brainiac provides scholarship signals , " enounce Vanduffel . " If a reward is big or smaller than expected , behavior is reenforce or discourage consequently . "
InCurrent BiologyVanduffel reports that stimulation of the ventral tegmental domain “ increase fMRI action throughout most of the dopaminergic wages system ” . He concludes that the experiments sustain the ventral tegmental ’s importance in the driving deportment . “ This has important implications for research into disorder pertain to the brainiac ’s reward meshwork , such as addiction or learning disability , ” he say .
Although the region ’s connection to the reward system was already well established , scientist could not be certain the ventral tegmental ’s signals were driving determination or downstream activity . study in rats had shown interchangeable results , but the paper notes , “ The primate Dopastat system has diverged importantly from that of rodent , present greatly thrive and unambiguously broadcast cortical and subcortical innervation patterns . ” Consequently it was not secure to conclude the same effects would be get word in macaques , allow alone humans .
While the work has exciting possibleness for helping people surmount habit and predilection they desire to change , the import in the faulty hands are frightening . Perhaps luckily , it will not be easy to change people ’s desires at will .
“ The adaxial tegmental field is very rich in the brain . At this point , stimulate it can only be done invasively , by surgically placing electrodes - just as is currently done for deep brain stimulation to treat Parkinson ’s or depression . ” says Vanduffel . Eventually other option may open up up , for good or sick , for object lesson using ultrasound .
