HIWG HIWG Document: # HD3419.1 Date: 16-10-1992 From: Leighton Piper 11 Skeffington Rd. PRESTON Lancs., PR1 5UP. UK. To : David Burden, Gushemege Sector Analyst. Clayton R. Bush, Quadrant 1 Editor. J.Duncan Law-Green, Vland Domain Editor. Kevin Parry, HIWG(UK). Subject: CABAl (Computer Augmented Behavoiral Alteration) Abstract: The use of microscopic biochip implanted into the hypothalamus and other hormonal control regions of the brain (ie secondary implant in the pituitary gland) to modify behavoir. External stimulation of the hypothalamus by the pre-programmed neuroprocessor at specific regions leading to the release of specific hormones. These specific hormones can bring about rapid and particular metabolic change; effect whole or isolated regions of the human body. Can interfere with natural hormone release and/ or function through sympathetic, synergistic or antagonistic/ blocking effects. There can also be direct stimulation of pleasure and pain centres. The controlled release of the bodies natural 'pain killers' - endorphines - can be used as a very effective, safe, cheap and rapid method to relieve pain. On the battlefield it could help to overcome certain logistical problems and enable the recipient to continue in his/ her actions without recourse to direct medical intervention. It is also envisaged that the 'pleasure and pain' centres approach to convicted criminals could ensure compliance with prison rules and regulations thus reducing tension and manpower. Detail: The process can have profound medical benefits for those suffering from a variety of hormonal and neuronal/cerebral disorders ranging from growth stimulation to control of fertility, from modulation of kidney function to stimulation of nerve function and heart control. The use of natural endorphines, as stated above, are very useful where conventional anasthetics pose a risk to the patient. The biochip can be inserted by a competent surgeon in under two hours, and removed in a quarter of the time. The process has not been widely implamented due to its re-classification as a military project and even this developmental use has been limited in scope. The CABAl project was developed by a team at the Bioengineering Research Bureau of Shishmadarshag LIC, led by professor Rae Tuliiga. The concept of direct manipulation of human action/ behavoir by the introduction of advanced neuro-electronic systems incorporated and controlling living tissue has had a long history. The most recent phase include the insights gain by this particular line of research reared its head at an obscure side meeting of the Bioelectronics Group at the Shudusham Robotics Conference of 1083 where Tuliiga was a junior research associate at the Lemkkoll-Hamun University on Anjiv (Tansa/ Gushemege 3006). The ideas taken away from the meeting were to remain dormant in Tuliiga's mind until he was elevated to the head of the Neuropharmacology Unit with the Bureau where his ambition bore fruit. Initially the corporate planners at ShMaSh were skeptical on being presented with the application of funds for extensive research in this field. They argued that the controversial nature of the project could seriously undermine the market base for ShMaSh if the details were ever made public before the initial feasability studies and the socio-psychological impact could be ascertained. Also the introduction of a working system may well be relativelly cheap compared to a complete course of orthodox i.e. neuro-drugs; this would seriously erode company profits in this area. However the initial resistence was overcome partly due to the fact that most of the executives were sure that the project would never amount to much and partly prevent Tuliiga from leaving and taking his ideas to another company. Within four years of the start of the project the research team had a working system introduced in a terran pig. Eighteen months later in 1115 the team had introduced a prototype biochip into a human volunteer with a hereditary hormone defficiency. The neuroprocessor and its associate effector circuits were used to compensate for the defficiency by a specific stimulation of primary effector cells within the hypothalamus. The success of this first human experiment paved the way for the introduction of the primary goals of the research, namely the external control of mood and behavoir. This stage ran into problems however. The breakdown of control led to an imbalance in hormone production which in turn led to acute psycheatric problems in the volunteer. The man stole an auto-rifle (and a couple of magazines) and fired indiscriminately into a holiday crowd killing seven and injuring fourteen others. The local police killed him after tracking him down and cornering him but not after he had wounded three officers. ShMaSh had to bring a great deal of political pressure (and a few bribes) to halt an inquiry. The project was nearly cancelled at this juncture but survived through the dogged persistence of Tuliiga. The problems were quickly identified and the project continued with a set of human volunteers which brought about rapid progress in the work. The research was set to developed for commercial exploitation when the military stepped in and in effect took control of the work and the direction of the project. This caused deep outrage amongst the staff and Tuliiga resigned in protest over the hijacking of the project by the military. As the work now went under the banner of essential military research the heirarchy of the armed forces perceived Tuliiga as a security risk due to his much publicised comments on the work. He was placed under house arrest where he died in a suspicious fire. A major development took place on 213-1118 when there was a break-in at the research lab. Thieves were obviously professionals who knew exactly what they were after, taking computer records, hand written notes, papers and hardware. There was no trace left that could give a clue towards the identities of the criminals. The work has not resurfaced, the conclusion reached by administrators of the project is that the theft was organised for the benefit of a 'hostile power' -a euphamism for one of the factions fighting over the Iridium Throne. The current favourite for the position of the sponsor of the theft is Dulinor or one of his agencies. The work is probably being developed for its military potential, a daunting prospect when coupled to some of the elite Ilelish commando teams who already have a infamous reputation without body enhancement. The first sight of this technology in the open has come with the emergence of a class of underlife in the seamier side of Kesser, primary city on Masa (2513). These individuals have had CABAl biochips implanted into the brain and are set to stimulate the pleasure centres. These individuals do little but sit in a dream-like state and slowly die, oblivious to their bodies' suffering. For many it is a last desperate, but for them entrancing, act. Others have used the devices to boost their responses The most exciting and most dangerous discovery evolving from the development of the CABAl work has been the interaction of chip recipients with computer systems. The initial studies on the first volunteers showed that during the monitoring of the neuroprocessor's effects on the host, certain anomalies in the computer were discovered to coincide with specific brain wave frequencies. Positive feedback experiments showed that subjects could excercise some measure of control over the computers. Implementatiom: Any individual wishing to undergo a 'psychochip' neuroprocessor inplantation procedure must go through a series of prepatory tests. This includes a full general medical plus physiological, psychological-personality and neurological tests to assess suitability. Laboratory assays cover aspects such as tissue typing and immunological rejection assessment as well as screens for biochemical and hormonal abnormalities (other than that being treated) and carriage of microbial pathogens. Following this comes pre-operative preparation, the implantation procedure itself and finally one or more follow-up checks. The implantation of the chips requires a technical base in medicine and of computing of at least average stellar; the importance attached to the operation emphasises the need for a skilled surgeon - the better the surgeon the greater the chance of success. The chips can be manufactured at tech level 12 and therefore the operation has the potential of being performed on a wide basis as long as the knowledge is available. The range of chip functions are potentially limitless although many are dangerous to implement and/ or are illegal. The following list is but a short and rough outline of the available feesible designs and their specific effects (Individual referees should feel free to develop their own ideas and the subsequent game effects - the author would be pleased to here from any). Hormonal: Base price of implant Cr.125,000 The hormonal implant is in essence the original idea fostered by Tuliiga using a computer chip desighned to specifically stimulate the hypothalamus and the pituitary glands to compensate for defficiencies. The biochip controls the complex electrochemical activities associated with the secretion and passage of chemicals through cell microchanneles. The method of action of the CABAl chips within the brain are essentially similar across the subtypes, although placing of chips, sensors and control structures vary. Effects can be seen almost immediatelly, the chips can be set to give appropriate stimulation, or alternatively at greater expense the chip can be programmed to repond to bio-electrical signals from the brain stem. This requires a period of training ten times 1D days - progress is monitored at the regular check-ups. The implant introduced for purely medical reasons has effects specific for the condition to which the neuroprocessor was added. The hormone production is achieved via controlled impulses. There are other specific neuroprocessor implants which for example through training and control can lead to the specific production of adrenalin (through an indirect path). In the best-trained individuals the raising of adrenalin levels at will, seeing increases of hormone of up to 200%. This leads to increased metabolic activity temporarily boosting strength and endurance two points. The response lasts for up to half an hour; there is a refractory period of four hours where a response is not possible. Neuronal: Base price Cr.250,000. This type of implant can lead to a general and specific stimulation of voluntary, skeletal, muscle - although those taking a more expensive option and more lengthy, vigorous training can specifically a;ter the pattern of involuntary muscle contraction (i.e. of the heart and gastrointestinal tract muscle). Training to acheive muscle control is of the same duration as that required for the specific hormonal control above. The specific stimulation of particular muscle sets (or indeed an overal stimulation) can lead to an enhancement of body strength by up two points. Then 'general control'-type neoroprocessor implant was originally designed for those individuals suffering from a variety of muscle wasting diseases where neurone degeneration has lead to failure of natural stimulation and control. Axonal-Cerebral: Base price Cr.325,000. This type of implant is the most expensive, dangerous yet promising in its effects. The first neuroprocessors used were of a general nature designed to compensate those with defects in the neuronal/axonal pathways of the brain that give rise to various cognitive, memory and muscle abnormalities. General benefits for those suffering from any of the above problems will include improvements in recall and cognitive abilities etc enough to overcome the original defect. Specific enhancements of cognitive functions can raise intelligence by one point and an improvement in recall of memory can raise apparent education by one point. These effects last up to three hours and can be utilised once every six, during which time the individual usually must rest. The enhanced cognitive neuroprocessor comprises a cerebral-computer interface and controlling system. Electrical signals generated by thought process are converted into binary codes that can directly make switches in electronic pathways of any linked processor-driven device. Prolonged training of up to 12 months is needed for these functions to be mastered and is analagous to certain abilities possessed by special, zhodani psionic adepts. These adepts can alter the bits of data held on computers (see 'Travellers Digest 1' or Best of Travellers Digest vol.1' - Adventure 1 by DGP). The enhanced chip costs up to ten times the basic price - this includes all the costs involved in monitoring and training. To determine the psychological suitability of a subject for implantation: Routine, Det, 30 min (time optional),(uncertain). Referee: The determination relates to the player's/NPC's ability to convince a psychologist that they will be able to cope with the implant. To determine the physical suitability of a subject for implantation: Routine, Med, special *, 1 hour (optional), (uncertain). Referee: The medical skill relates to the investigating physician. The special modifier comes into force at the referee's discretion and relates to any particular physical problems or enhancements that the player/NPC has. Both the above tasks must be successfully negotiated before the character can proceed onto the next stage. Both tasks can be attempted again if an individual fails, with the following modifications; for the first task the difficulty increases one level for each previous failure i.e. second attempt is difficult, for the second task the ability to make another attempt depends on the level of mishap. If the mishap is at the destroyed level, some fundamental incompatability has been discovered and no further attempt may be made. At major level then the examining doctor has discovered some potentially fatal disease/disorder in the individual (which should be easily cured - randonmly determine the nature of the disease). This disease must be treated before the physical suitability task is attempted. This second attempt is at the next difficulty level; only one re-try is possible. The superficial and minor mishaps increase the task difficulty one level. Multiple re-tries are possible as long as determination rolls are successful. To prepare an individual for implantation procedure: Routine, Med, Dex, 15 min (optional), (uncetain, hazardous). Referee: The skills apply to the supervising physician. Failure indicates that there is some small problem. A retry is possible unless there is a destroyed mishap, a major mishap increases the task one level. To perform the implantation procedure: Difficult, Med, Dex, 30 min (optional), (uncertain, hazardous). Referee: Again the skills apply to the principle medic involved in the operation. Success will only become apparent some time after the operation - recovery period is 10 times the time increment at which point the biochip functions can be activated. Mishaps can be potentially fatal; a destroyed mishap signifies death to the recipient, a major mishap leaves the recipient with some degree of permanent damage - intelligence and dexterity are reduced by one point. A minor mishap leads to the permanent loss of either one intelligence or dexterity point. For all categories including superficial there is a coma following failure, the more severe the level of mishap the longer and deeper the coma. To follow up an individual after implantation: Routine, Med, Int, 15 min (optional). Referee: These check-ups should occur once every two weeks for three months to monitor progress, iron out any problems and spot potential trouble. These consultations are designed to evaluate and implament the physiological and psychological changes brought about by the working chip.