Another bit about the brain

Last week, British scientists announced that we may be a step closer to fully understanding brain disorders such as MS and dementia.   

There is a protein within the brain that maintains the nerve fibers that relay electrical signals, assuring that the nerve impulse carries the proper message.  Degenerative conditions such as the ones mentioned above, are essentially caused by the disruption of these signals.  Understanding the role that the protein Nfasc186 has to play in this could be crucial. 

While I'm obviously very glad for those who suffer from degenerative brain conditions, I cannot help but wonder where else experiments with this protein could take us.  If it's all about the brain sending messages to other parts of the body, could these messages be amplified into an artificial telekinesis?  What of how the brain perceives things and determines for us what is "real?" 

Update: This article from Wired talks about melding the brain's nerve cells with nanoelectronics.  We're well on our way.


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