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Neuroscientists at Case Western Reserve University claim to have discovered a previously unknown mechanism for neuron communication. Using electric fields, neurons are able to activate other nearby neurons even when there is no physical connection between the cells. In one test, the scientists used a hippocampal slice of a mouse brain, and found that after cutting the slice in half and separating the pieces, they were able to induce a signal in one half which could bridge the gap and generate activity in the other.
AIUI, we've known the brain produces and can be influenced by electric fields for decades, so this doesn't seem particularly surprising, although it's still rather interesting if it helps to truly understand what's going on. Personally, I'm wondering if this will allow a brain-computer interface without drilling through the skull to implant electrodes... :)
Summary available at ScienceAlert.com
Research paper: Slow periodic activity in the longitudinal hippocampal slice can selfâpropagate nonâsynaptically by a mechanism consistent with ephaptic coupling
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 21 2019, @11:20PM (4 children)
If you live under a high voltage electrical transmission line, you often get cancer. For decades "scientists" said this was just coincidence because there was no causal link. But now there is. So how long until the causal link between vaccinations and autism is discovered?
(Score: 5, Funny) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday February 22 2019, @12:07AM (2 children)
You've got it backwards: scientists are more likely to be autistic than average. Scientists created vaccines. Autism causes vaccinations, not the other way :)
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 22 2019, @07:55AM (1 child)
technically it was cows that caused vaccination.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday February 22 2019, @04:41PM
We are all cows. Cows go moo. Vaccinated cows!
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
(Score: 1) by Gault.Drakkor on Friday February 22 2019, @07:00PM
You know what they often put on the plants along high voltage electrical transmission lines? Herbicides. I would expect some of herbicides used were/are really toxic due to the plants were not expected to be eaten by humans. This is compared to herbicides used on agriculture crops.
There is much stronger evidence that says herbicides can cause cancer vs electric fields.
This is testable in terms of regions that use herbicide vs not along transmission lines and cancer rates of people in close proximity to high voltage electrical transmission lines.