iPlant – Programmable Motivation
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
Image a device, implanted in your brain, that allows you to tune the neurochemistry of motivation to make difficult tasks easy and even immensely enjoyable. That is the idea behind, iPlant, a conceptual design for Human application (10 years out?) but already working in some mammals. The device generates dopamine (reward drug) or a powerful motivator to repeat what you just did such as exercise, avoid eating a cookie (self-regulation), study a difficult passage and so on.
Check out this YouTube that introduces the concept. For a more robust introduction, check out this longer video that explains how iPlant relates to deep brain stimulation devices already in human use.
It will be interesting to see which hits the market first – brain implants (or hopefully a less invasive device) to control motivation or the so-called “self control” pill. No matter, it looks like good old fashion will power may soon be supercharged by some application of augmented cognition. I am sure that is a good thing.
