Bio-electricity of the Brain

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2 total messages Started by Rusty Ramser Tue, 26 Jan 1993 21:50

#2780

Author: Rusty Ramser
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1993 21:50

33 lines
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(I'm assuming that by the name of this newsgroup, you
 all are a medical and/or biology-based discussion group.
 This looked like the most appropriate newsgroup to post
 this question because of that.)

I am reading a type of sci-fi book that describes a
certain type of psychic attack in the following way:
  "It is a massive assault upon all neurons in
   the brain, attempting to destroy all by a
   massive overload of signals."

What does this sound like to you medically-oriented
people?  Would this type of attack cause any real
physical damage to the brain or other parts of the
body?  Would there be psychological or serious
brain damage?

I realize this is rather hypothetical, but some of
you who know something of the biological workings of
the brain (e.g., neurons, synapses, etc.) might be
able to take an educated guess.

Thanks for any input.  Posting is okay, or e-mail
to the below address.

+---------------------------------+
| Rusty B. Ramser                 |
| DL-DSD-21                       |
| Kennedy Space Center, FL  32899 |
|                                 |
| rusty-ramser@ksc.nasa.gov       |
+---------------------------------+

Re: Bio-electricity of the Brain

#2784

Author: Stephen Matheson
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 05:56

34 lines
1719 bytes

From article <1993Jan26.215036.19365@dale.ksc.nasa.gov>,
by rramser@dale.ksc.nasa.gov (Rusty Ramser):

> (I'm assuming that by the name of this newsgroup, you
>  all are a medical and/or biology-based discussion group.
>  This looked like the most appropriate newsgroup to post
>  this question because of that.)

Oh no!  I've been sucked in!  Well, while I'm here...

> I am reading a type of sci-fi book that describes a
> certain type of psychic attack in the following way:
>   "It is a massive assault upon all neurons in
>    the brain, attempting to destroy all by a
>    massive overload of signals."

> What does this sound like to you medically-oriented
> people?

Sounds like one mean case of epilepsy.

> Would this type of attack cause any real
> physical damage to the brain or other parts of the
> body?  Would there be psychological or serious
> brain damage?

Yes.  Yes.  In some cases, anyway.  "A massive assault
upon all the neurons of the brain" sounds like a pretty
damaging seizure.

--

Steve Matheson   Program in Neuroscience   University of Arizona
sfm@neurobio.arizona.edu

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