Future Challenges to the BTWC: Neuroscience
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Transcript of Future Challenges to the BTWC: Neuroscience
Future Challenges to the Future Challenges to the BTWC: NeuroscienceBTWC: Neuroscience
SIPRI workshop 5/6.03.11Steven Rose
ThemesThemes
1. Current developments in neuroscience 2. Likely relevant neurotech developments 3. Five dichotomies 4. Emerging issues relevant to BTWC
Genetic ManipulationGenetic Manipulation
Knock out, knock in mouse models
Human genome, Epigenomics,
proteomics etc
Windows into the brainWindows into the brain
fMRI MEG ERP PET
Smart pharmacologySmart pharmacology
Smart pharmacology and single photon confocal microscopy
The coming decadesThe coming decades
Four technoscientific developments of potential significance to conflict and control
1. Human-machine 1. Human-machine interfacesinterfaces
Visual and other prostheses
Implanted chips Transcranial magnetic
stimulation
2. Psychopathic Brains?2. Psychopathic Brains?
3. Brain imaging for 3. Brain imaging for surveillancesurveillance
“How do we determine if a person is a terrorist or spy? There is a new technology, that ..allows us to measure scientifically if specific information is stored in a person’s brain. Brain Fingerprinting technology can determine the presence or absence of specific information, such as terrorist training and associations. This exciting new technology can help….
discover if a person: Has committed terrorist acts Has been trained as a terrorist Is a terrorist leader…. (from the company website)
4. New psychochemicals4. New psychochemicals
Greater behavioural insights leading to new control technologies
Rational drug design to interact with neurotransmitters, receptors, affecting central and peripheral nervous system
New methods of delivery for peptides etc
Five Conflict/Control Five Conflict/Control DichotomiesDichotomies
Lethal/ ‘Non-lethal’ Military/ Civilian Enhancing/ Degrading Physical/(Bio)Chemical CNS/PNS
Lethal/ ‘Non-Lethal’Lethal/ ‘Non-Lethal’
Lethal – nerve gases, toxins etc. Already covered by conventions – no new issues
from neuroscience although new genetic technologies make possible wider range of specific toxins? Targeted ‘ethnic weapons’?
‘Non-Lethal’ aka ‘Riot Control’ Agents that incapacitate, disorientate, induce
pain or loss of consciousness Many new issues
Military/CivilianMilitary/Civilian
Present conventions deal with military uses – do not cover uses in civil conflict, by police etc.
Thus a grey area – witness past and current events in Russia, Israel/Palestine, Libya …..
In general such civil conflict uses employ ‘non-lethal’ agents though often in contexts in which they are far from non-lethal
Many nations have active ‘non-lethal’ research programmes – ambiguous civil/military intentions
Enhancement /DegradationEnhancement /Degradation
Neuroscience advances offer military technologies of enhancement to one’s own side – eg brain/computer interfaces, cognitive and attention enhancers (eg ritalin, modafanil)
as well as technologies of degradation to opponents – again only degradation considered here
Potential Physical (non CB) Potential Physical (non CB) Weaponry aimed at neural Weaponry aimed at neural
systemssystems Trans-cranial magnetic stimulation Directed energy (microwaves, lasers etc) Acoustic energy (sound blasters) ‘Active denial’ etc (see Davison: ‘Non-lethal’ weapons, 2009; RS report
2011)
Some in current production and use (eg IDF) Some under US, Czech, German contracts
(Davison 2009, BMA 2007)
Much snake-oil
Active Denial TechnologyActive Denial Technology
‘a breakthrough non-lethal technology that uses millimetre-wave electromagnetic energy to stop, deter and turn back an advancing adversary from relatively long range… ADT exploits intolerance of thermally induced pain..maximised at a temperature of 550C’ but ‘does not burn’..
developed by Communications and Power Industries, Palo Alto
2004 - system delivered by Raytheon to US military Press release states device meets approved human
and animal research protocols (!)
(Girard, 2005)
The Scream WeaponThe Scream Weapon
Bil’in, near Ramallah, June 6 2005“new weapon knocks crowds off
feet”“the knees buckle high technology
toolkit”, the brain aches, the stomach turns..the latest weapon
in the Israeli army’s toolkit”(Press reports)
(Bio)Chemical agents aimed at (Bio)Chemical agents aimed at PNSPNS
Tear gasses etc in this category: Enhanced CS Pepper ball (PAVA; capsaicin) Agents causing temporary blindness or
neuromuscular relaxation/paralysis
Nb all can be lethal
The Pepperball The Pepperball
IDF attack on peaceful Israeli and Palestinian protest against the Wall, 28 April 05
“a small transparent red plastic ball …containing a creamy white powder.. when it hits the skin and explodes produces an extreme burning sensation”
(Giacaman, 2005)
Definitions for CNS non-lethalsDefinitions for CNS non-lethals
Highly potent Duration hours to days but effects
transient Reversible effects Low ED50, High LD50 (but impossible in practice) Logistically feasible - i.e skin or breath
absorbable, cross BBB, weaponisable
‘‘Non-Lethal’ agents aimed at Non-Lethal’ agents aimed at CNSCNS
‘off the rocker’ or ‘on the floor’ (Davison)
Incapacitating/calmative (thiopental, diazepam)
Sedative –hypnotic (barbiturates)
anxiolytic Convulsant Disorienting (BZ – muscarinic antagonist, other
hallucinogens)
Paralysing/anaesthetic/analgesic (opioids, fentanyl)
Potential novel agentsPotential novel agents
Non-cholinergic or opioid agonists/antagonists Receptor/reuptake inhibitors
‘Memory erasers’ (anti-CREB etc) ‘Trust inducers’ (oxytocin etc) ‘Mood-modifiers’ Derived from non-traditional drugs –
peptides, proteins, ge toxins etc