Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Will Scientists Learn How To Fine-Tune Autism?
In his 2000 novel A Deepness in the Sky, Vernor Vinge writes about a treatment called Focusing:
"We can improve the attention-focusing aspects of consciousness: we can take humans and turn them into analytical engines."
Researchers have announced this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) that genetically altered mice "with a loss-of-function mutation in the murine NLGN4 ortholog Nlgn4, which encodes the synaptic cell adhesion protein Neuroligin-4, exhibit highly selective deficits in reciprocal social interactions and communication that are reminiscent of ASCs (autism spectrum conditions) in humans."
Last summer, it was announced that inhibiting an enzyme called PAK can stop mice from exhibiting signs of hyperactivity and repetitive movement.
If scientists learn a bit more, it is not outside the realm of possibility that it might be possible to induce autism-like behaviors and then remove them. Autism and genius are increasingly seen as being related; some forms of mild autism may provide a shortcut to increased concentration for particular individuals.
An ideal study pill - which can be reversed in time for you to enjoy being with friends on the weekend? Don't be surprised if someday students are asked to pee in a cup or give a blood sample after taking an important test like the LSAT or GRE.
Other barriers are already being broken in the race to cheat on tests:
Via the nifty new site io9; science links here and here. Also, read more about the idea of how autism may relate to brilliance in this well-done article about a musical savant diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder and this set of links on autism, creativity and genius.
Focusing ennobles. It is the key to Emergent success, and a much more subtle thing than you can imagine. It's not just that we've created a psychoactive microbe....
(Read more about focusing)
Professional athletes aren't the only ones who turn to drugs to enhance their performance. People who work mostly with their minds are also looking for that vital edge.
Students around the world are experimenting with prescription pharmaceuticals to get an edge on their classmates.
Best of all, if you still did poorly on the test, you could always take something to forget your painful feelings of failure.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 1/30/2008)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 4 )
Related News Stories - (" Medical ")
MouthPad Supports Head And Tongue Tracking
'The operation that had transformed half his body... had located the control switchboard in his teeth.'- Alfred Bester, 1956.
Drug Induces Hibernation-Like State In Humans
'... drugged and chilled and stowed in sleep tanks.' - Robert Heinlein, 1951.
Drug To Regenerate Teeth In Humans
'We want to do something to help those who are suffering from tooth loss or absence,' said lead researcher Katsu Takahashi.
Illustrating Classic Heinlein With AI
'Stasis, cold sleep, hibernation, hypothermia, reduced metabolism, call it what you will - the logistics-medicine research teams had found a way to stack people like cordwood and use them when needed.' - Robert Heinlein, 1956
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Miss Alabama Beauty Contest Offers Different Standards
'...they moved with the ease of dandelion puffs.'
Has Musk Given Up On Full Self Driving (FSD)?
'...some bored drone pusher in a remote driving centre...'
Prufrock-3 'The Monster' Ready To Launch
Just go for it.
Drones In Vast Airborne Grids
'These pods were programmed to hang in space in a hexagonal grid pattern...'
Starship Special Edition For Lunar Shuttle
Love those special edition spaceships.
Capturing Asteroids With Nets
'...the meteor caught and halted just as a small boy catches a swift ball in his cap.'
Project Hyperion - Generation Ship Designers Needed!
'We have decided that it shall be but one ship... it must contain everything needed to take us through the generations.'
AI Welfare Position At Anthropic Filled By Human
'You’re the robopsychologist of the plant, so you’re to study the robot itself...'
Marslink Proposed By SpaceX
'It was the heart of the Solar System's communication line...'
Simple Way To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'... designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Wood-Panelled LignoSat Launched
'The Consul remembered his first glimpse of the kilometer-long treeship...'
Laser-Beam Welding In Orbital Factories
'His contract with Space Industries required him to work summers in their orbital factory.'
'Iceberg House' Of Travis Kelce Reflects Science Fiction Of Past Century
'The basement was huge... carved deep into the rock that folded up to underlie the ridge...'
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
