Have you ever woken up from a bizarre dream and wondered what it meant? You wouldn’t have been the only person to do so. For centuries, people have considered the meaning of our dreams.
Sleeping
Every night, our bodies need to recover from the day’s obstacles in order to improve our performance, mood, and overall health for the following day. But did you know that even as you sleep, your brain still performs all sorts of activities? As you sleep the night away, your brain progresses through different sleep cycle stages: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). When you first fall asleep, you experience the light sleep of the Stage 1 NREM phase, characterized by slowing brain activities. It is fairly easy to wake up from this stage of sleep, often without noticing that you have fallen asleep in the first place. However, if uninterrupted, a person progresses to the second stage of the sleep cycle: Stage 2 of NREM. In this stage, the body starts to cool down, the muscles relax, and the breathing/heart rate slows. The last stage of NREM is deep sleep.
After the period of non-rapid eye movement is over, REM takes place. In this stage, you experience atonia, which is the temporary paralysis of your body, except for your eyes and breathing mechanisms. Your body does this to prevent you from reenacting your dreams. Other than dreams, nightmares also occur in this stage of sleep.
Dreams
Did you know everyone is thought to have between 3 to 6 dreams every night? This phenomenon begs the question: Why do we dream in the first place?
Despite centuries of research and attempts at figuring out the answer to this question, we still do not have a clear answer. However, a popular theory is that dreams aid with memory consolidation. Deep NREM sleep helps in the consolidation and strengthening of individual memories. Moreover, dreaming and sleeping, in general, allow these memories to come together, allowing for greater creativity and problem-solving. A study by Greater Good Magazine tested this idea by waking up participants during NREM and REM stages. They were given anagram puzzles and had to unscramble letters to form a word. When woken up at a later interval during NREM sleep (which is when humans do not experience dreaming), participants were less creative compared to when they were woken up during REM (dreaming stage) sleep.
While much research has been and continues to be done, we still have many questions about dreaming that are yet to be answered. What we do know, however, is that sleep leads to many health benefits when done appropriately, such as restoring mood, healthy weight, reduced stress, lower chances of significant health problems, better memory, and many more. So, the next time you encounter a challenging situation, think back to the good old saying and sleep on it.
Hearing is one of our five senses, making our ears a vital part of our body. The ear consists of three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. When the outer ear picks up a sound, it travels through the external auditory canal and hits the eardrum, which then vibrates. These vibrations travel to three bones in the middle ear, known as the ossicles, where the sound gets amplified. Finally, the waves reach the cochlea in the inner ear and get converted into electrical impulses, which the brain translates into sound.
This process is necessary for everyday life. Unfortunately, due to the delicate nature of the ear, this process can easily be disrupted. For example, exposure to loud sounds can damage the ears’ nerves, causing hearing loss. However, this can also cause something else: tinnitus.
Tinnitus is the result of damage to the inner ear. Repetitive exposure to loud noise damages the tiny hair cells in the cochlea, which are responsible for sending electrical impulses to the brain. When the cells are bent or broken, they transmit random, spontaneous signals to the brain. The brain receives them and creates phantom noises – sounds only in the head with no external source.
Most cases of tinnitus are caused by hearing loss, which often happens as people age. 24% of people aged 65 and above have tinnitus. However, hearing loss can be accelerated by frequently being in an environment with loud sounds. These environments range from construction sites to blasting music through headphones. 18 – 29% of youth worldwide subject themselves to dangerous volume levels daily.
Tinnitus can cause different kinds of phantom noises: ringing, buzzing, roaring, clicking, hissing, and humming in the ears. It can be present all the time or come and go. It can be in one ear or both. It can be loud or soft.
Tinnitus may vary from person to person, but no matter how it presents, it proves to be unpleasant.
About 750 million people around the world have tinnitus. Most people with it lament that they can’t have silence anymore. The constant sound in their ears can even cause anxiety and depression. Some use background noise, such as TV or music, to drown out the noise. Tinnitus can be ignored sometimes, but the cold, hard truth is that tinnitus is permanent. There is no cure.
So, the best method of protection is prevention. Tone down the volume of your music when you use headphones. Wear earplugs when you’re in a loud environment like a concert. Regularly exercise and eat healthy to prevent tinnitus caused by obesity or blood vessel disorders.
Figure 2: Loop Experience Earplugs, a popular and comfortable form of noise protection
The world has gotten louder. Noise surrounds us constantly, and it can be hard to get a moment of silence. By protecting your ears, you protect your peace as well.
Visualize yourself living in an era where science fiction becomes a reality. For seven years, a groundbreaking endeavor called Neuralink has emerged. This tiny coin-shaped device pushes the boundaries of human potential by flawlessly merging our minds with the digital world. The creation of the Neuralink holds the promise of unlocking centuries of mysteries about the brain. This will revolutionize medicine, accelerating society into a future where humans and machines are blurred. Furthermore, it will allow our cognitive capabilities to reach creative heights. Though this sounds enchanting, many have asked if the creator, Elon Musk, is playing God and if it is ethical to interfere with the brain. We will discuss the functions of Neuralink, the medical benefits, and the ethical and safety concerns of it.
Figure 1: Neuroimaging of a Neuralink inside of the brain.
What is a Neuralink and How Does it Work? The process of Neuralink started in July 2016. Elon Musk and his team are working on innovative technology that could allow people to control machines through their thoughts. This involves ultrafine brain threads that listen to neurons. To facilitate the process, they have developed a specialized robot for surgery. While their initial goal was to compete with AI, they are now focusing on helping individuals with brain disorders. This N1 chip by Neuralink is implanted in the skull and measures 4mm square. It uses thin wires, thinner than human hair, to detect and record neuron messages from the brain. With the ability to connect up to 1,000 brain cells, multiple chips can be implanted for maximum connectivity. These chips wirelessly connect to a wearable device, such as a hearing aid, equipped with Bluetooth and a battery for convenience. Traditional neurosurgery is currently used for implantation, but the company plans to use robot surgeons for safer and less invasive procedures.
Figure 2: The surgical machine to implant the Neuralink
The Future of Neuralink in Medicine Neuralink, headed by Elon Musk, aids those with physical or mental disabilities by creating a brain-machine interface. They have developed a state-of-the-art machine that interfaces with the brain through tiny implanted electrodes called “threads.” These electrodes can record neuronal activity, providing valuable insights into neurons’ workings and roles in the brain. This technology has immense potential in neurosurgery, particularly in improving sensory and motor function in individuals with neurological disorders. It can help restore neuronal connections in deteriorating ailments, boost cognitive abilities, prevent epilepsy and seizure attacks, and even offer robotic mind control. Moreover, Neuralink’s advancements provide better communication for patients with disabilities, as thoughts can be translated directly into written or spoken words, benefiting those with communication disorders or locked-in syndrome. As a pioneering neurotechnology company, Neuralink is at the forefront of developing a brain-computer interface with immense potential in medical settings, particularly for individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Although it is still in the developmental and experimental phase, its intended applications hold great promise. One significant application involves restoring motor function in individuals with paralysis or motor impairments by bypassing damaged neural pathways. This grants them control over their movements and enhances their independence. Additionally, Neuralink’s technology can assist individuals with sensory impairments, like blindness or deafness, by providing a means to receive and interpret sensory information through the interface. It is crucial to emphasize the importance of extensive research, testing, and regulatory approvals. This is to ensure Neuralink’s safety, efficacy, and ethical considerations in medical settings. Neuralink’s ongoing development has the potential to significantly transform the lives of individuals with disabilities. However, it will require careful exploration and validation to fully realize its capabilities in medical intervention.
Figure 3: Structure of the Neuralink
Ethical and Safety Concerns of Neuralink The idea of implanting a chip in the brain may seem like an innovative and safe solution, but neuroscientists have raised ethical concerns about its potential risks. Dr. John Krakauer highlights that the development of a chip capable of controlling hormone levels or streaming music inside the brain is still in its early stages. Premature adoption of such technology could give people false hopes. Previous experiments have revealed serious safety concerns associated with the invasive and rushed nature of the product. In 2023, the FDA expressed concern about the device’s lithium battery, the potential migration of tiny wires to other brain regions, and the safe removal of the device without causing damage to the brain tissue. Lesions resulting from brain tissue damage can lead to symptoms such as weakness, sensory disruptions, confusion, and impaired involuntary movements. In contrast, noninvasive methods have shown promise in enhancing lives without the need for surgery or the risk of infection.
Studies have demonstrated improvements in the lives of elderly individuals, translation of brain activity into intelligible speech, and assistance for paralyzed patients. Shockingly, the Physicians Committee obtained internal records of a distressing monkey experiment where one of the infected monkeys exhibited infection at the surgical site and subsequent acute bleeding, leading to a dilapidated cerebral cortex. Acute bleeding in the brain can result in various symptoms such as headaches, nausea, seizures, limb weakness or numbness, difficulty in speech or comprehension, and loss of consciousness. Ryan Merkley, the Director of Research and Advocacy with the Physicians Committee, criticizes Elon Musk’s focus on invasive devices, asserting that investing in noninvasive brain-computer interfaces would be a more considerate approach to patient health. “Musk needs to drop his obsession with sticking a device in our heads. If he cared about patients’ health, he would invest in a noninvasive brain-computer interface.” -Ryan Merkley While researchers are extensively studying the potential long-term effects of implanting Neuralink in the brain, it is crucial to acknowledge the inherent invasiveness of the procedure and the associated risks and concerns. Complications, such as infection or bleeding, may arise from the surgical process itself. Furthermore, the presence of the implant within the brain raises additional worries regarding potential issues like tissue damage, inflammation, or immune responses. Ongoing investigations are essential to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the long-term implications, evaluate the safety profile, and effectively mitigate any potential risks associated with the implementation of the Neuralink implant.
Figure 4: Getting A Link, real imaging of the link
In conclusion, Neuralink represents an exciting and groundbreaking endeavor that holds tremendous promise for enhancing brain function. It also blurs the lines between humans and machines. For people with disabilities and neurological disorders, technology offers promising prospects. It improves communication, restores sensory and motor functions, and even allows them to control robots with mind control. Concerns have been raised regarding the invasiveness of the procedure, the rushed development, and potential risks such as brain tissue damage and device migration. Many critics argue that noninvasive alternatives should be explored further to improve lives without surgery and its complications. Although Neuralink’s ambitions are admirable, ethical consideration and a thorough evaluation of safety measures are crucial to ensuring the well-being of those undergoing the procedure.
