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AnonTechie [soylentnews.org] writes:

Inside the Science of an Amazing New Surgery Called Deep Brain Stimulation. The most futuristic medical treatment ever imagined is now a reality !

Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, combines neurology, neurosurgery and electrical engineering, and casual conversations in the operating room between doctors and their wide-awake patients are just one of the surprises. The entire scene is an eerie blend of the fantastic and the everyday, like something from the work of Philip K. Dick, who gave us the stories that became Blade Runner and Total Recall. During surgery, DBS patients are made literally bionic. Tiny electrodes are implanted in their brains (powered by battery packs sewn into their chests) to deliver a weak but constant electric current that reduces or eliminates their symptoms. DBS can improve a shaky putting stroke; it can also help the disabled walk and the psychologically tormented find peace.

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/inside-sc ience-amazing-new-surgery-called-deep-brain-stimul ation-180951170/ [smithsonianmag.com]

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