Mice turn into killers when brain circuit is triggered by laser

Thorin wrote:Inside every mouse lurks a natural-born killer. Researchers have identified the brain region that controls hunting, and have found a way to switch it on and off.

Ivan de Araujo at Yale University and his team have discovered that two sets of neurons in the mouse brain underpin the instinct to kill. One coordinates the pursuit of prey, while the other controls the neck and jaw muscles used for biting. Both are in the amygdala – the part of the brain involved in motivation, emotion and fear.

By modifying these neurons so they could be activated by laser light, a technique called optogenetics, the team were able to switch these circuits on whenever they wanted. When the laser was off, the mice padded around their cages normally. But turning the laser on caused the mice to suddenly launch frenzied attacks on almost anything in their path: live crickets, fake insects or even sticks and bottle caps. After jumping on the “prey”, the mice grabbed it with their paws and repeatedly sunk in their teeth.








https://www.newscientist.com/article/2117842-mice-turn-into-killers-when-brain-circuit-is-triggered-by-laser/

Syl wrote:

Thorin wrote:Inside every mouse lurks a natural-born killer. Researchers have identified the brain region that controls hunting, and have found a way to switch it on and off.

Ivan de Araujo at Yale University and his team have discovered that two sets of neurons in the mouse brain underpin the instinct to kill. One coordinates the pursuit of prey, while the other controls the neck and jaw muscles used for biting. Both are in the amygdala – the part of the brain involved in motivation, emotion and fear.

By modifying these neurons so they could be activated by laser light, a technique called optogenetics, the team were able to switch these circuits on whenever they wanted. When the laser was off, the mice padded around their cages normally. But turning the laser on caused the mice to suddenly launch frenzied attacks on almost anything in their path: live crickets, fake insects or even sticks and bottle caps. After jumping on the “prey”, the mice grabbed it with their paws and repeatedly sunk in their teeth.








https://www.newscientist.com/article/2117842-mice-turn-into-killers-when-brain-circuit-is-triggered-by-laser/

Scary, can you imagine if this was used on humans....it would be like the sci ifi film Terminator....only instead of a specific target everyone would be fair game.

I do suspect that every able human being has a 'kill gene'....luckily most of us are never in the position to activate it.

Syl wrote:I don't think you can mess about with the human brain in this way.
We have to have instincts to survive....if they were controlled or activated by a machine, it would imo cause more harm than good.
Many years ago I saw a sort of lobotomy performed on a woman who kept having violent outbursts. She had to be awake whilst the investigation into her brain was carried out, different parts of her brain were stimulated and she would show different emotions. When the 'anger' section was touched, the Dr's modified it in some way.

She was interviewed a year or so later, she was like a zombie.

nicko wrote:It is correct that every man has a "kill gene" but in a few it is buried very deep.   For some, even if they are in danger of being shot by the enemy they cannot pull the trigger. I have seen men so shocked by the violence of battle that they "freeze" and allow themselves to be shot dead without making any effort to save themselves.

I had this "freeze" situation my self in Nam, I was 19 yrs old and it was my first experience of being under fire,  one of my squad, on his second Tour had no problem shooting the VC thus saving my life. I never froze again and had no problem in shooting when needed.

nicko wrote:It is correct that every man has a "kill gene" but in a few it is buried very deep.   For some, even if they are in danger of being shot by the enemy they cannot pull the trigger. I have seen men so shocked by the violence of battle that they "freeze" and allow themselves to be shot dead without making any effort to save themselves.

I had this "freeze" situation my self in Nam, I was 19 yrs old and it was my first experience of being under fire,  one of my squad, on his second Tour had no problem shooting the VC thus saving my life. I never froze again and had no problem in shooting when needed.

nicko wrote:Ben, it does become easier after you'v killed a few,   I can't deny that,  but after you'v done it and it's all quiet, you think that man could have had a Wife and Children or a Mother waiting at home for a son that will never come. But you always remember that that man would kill YOU in an instance if he had the chance, unless of course HE freezes.