Controlled Autism

[Jasper]

http://io9.com/349956/one-pill-makes-you-autistic-++-and-one-pill-changes-you-back

  This is sick!  Thoughts?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I want autism!

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Vaguely related:

http://www.sfn.org/index.cfm?pagename=brainBriefings_adult_neurogenesis

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/scientists-discover-way-to-reverse-loss-of-memory-775586.html

[Jasper]

WooOOOoo....

I can't wait to have my consciousness forcibly expanded by technology.

[hooplala]

...yeah...definitely controlled...yeah...def...definitely controlled...
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[Bharlion]

Great stuff. So I can slip that into the cities water supply and have an entire town full of basket cases like me?

I feel like some assorted anarchy. Anyone else?

[Jasper]

Whee.

After some consideration, I think this opens up a new dimension of scientific philosophy.  What sort of society will we witness during a period of post-organic consciousness?

[Bharlion]

1, 3, 5...

Sorry I was having another fit. I agree. I mean imagine what you could do with that. You could literally turn someone into a human tape recorder or camera for military applications. You would just have to have a handler to lead them around and keep them in a catatonic state so they can just soak in that information. Or you could keep them as pets in the bottom of accounting firms feeding them pills and CNS stimulants to keep them awake for days while they balance the books.

I should work in R&D for defense contractor or something I think.

[Jasper]

Data-Zombies.

[Richter]

This is how many of my work days go, to be honest.  Have coffee, focus, crunch data.
This also brings up that how we currently define austism (Autism Spectrum disorders in general), does encompas a VERY wide range of symptoms and functionality. 
Lots of folks (myself included) could potentialy be diagnosable.  I'd like to see how people address consciousness, focus, and ability, as this develops.  Mainly, where does it cease to be a personality quirk?

[AFK]

And speaking of data, since it has become broadened, you get these headlines like "Autism on the Rise".  And while there may be some truth to that, when you change the definitions, it makes it very difficult to actually meaningfully measure and pinpoint rising trends. 

[Cain]

Yeah, but just imagine slipping it in the drinking water of a city.

Combine it with LSD, for the lulz.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Mr Cain you are a wicked, sick, evil, twisted degenerate of a man.


I like the way you think 

[Cramulus]

First - this sounds AWESOME. Wanting to see what schizophrenia was like is one of the reasons I first dabbled in crazy chemicals and I'd be quite curious to see what autism is like too. For a few hours. Assuming it's safe.

But sorting through this - they've only done tests on mice so far. In Germany, they might actually be able to get away with further human testing if there's enough support - a participant waiver has a lot more weight in Deutschland than the states.

But here's the thing: are these mice autistic? They have Autism Spectrum Conditions, which (as I understand it) is how they diagnose autism in mice.

Autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) are heritable conditions characterized by impaired reciprocal social interactions, deficits in language acquisition, and repetitive and restricted behaviors and interests.

the drug cures those symptoms. Does that mean the mouse is no longer "autistic"? Until we get a lab rat who can tell us about his or her experience, we'll never really know.


Flowers for Algernon comes to mind.

[Bebek Sincap Ratatosk]

I wonder if one pill is blue and the other red?

"M O O N, that spells Rabbit Hole!"
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