Magnetic implant creates 6th sense

[matthyaouw]

Magnetic implant creates "6th sense"

According to Huffman, the magnet works by moving very slightly, or with a noticeable oscillation, in response to EM fields. This stimulates the somatosensory receptors in the fingertip, the same nerves that are responsible for perceiving pressure, temperature and pain. Huffman and other recipients found they could locate electric stovetops and motors, and pick out live electrical cables. Appliance cords in the United States give off a 60-Hz field, a sensation with which Huffman has become intimately familiar. "It is a light, rapid buzz," he says.

Article.

I personally think this is fascinating, and would like to see it developed further. Any thoughts?

 

[Ouabache]

If you had one of those implants, you probably would not want an MRI taken on that part of your body. If you did have an MRI, the implant would torque (twist) strongly inside you.

 

[Moonbear]

I was hoping one of the physicists would chime in as to whether a magnet would vibrate as described under those conditions. If it does vibrate, then it's plausible that the mechanoreceptors in your fingers could detect the motion. At least, it would work until your body encapsulated the magnet in connective tissue to try to sequester the foreign object. I don't know if it would be enough to really perceive the change or not. Without knowing if the vibration would really happen, I'm not sure if this is a real sensation or a tingling due to damaged nerves in the fingertip caused by the implant and having nothing to do with EM fields.

I'm still not sure WHY you'd want to do that to yourself.

 

[3trQN]

Why make it an implant? Isnt the only reason that it conveys its information to the body? There are so many better ways to receive information, like mmm a picture or a sound... Id prefer a haptic-like device myself.

EDIT: The market for the sex toy industry must be astronomical... :rofl:

 

[Ouabache]

I was hoping one of the physicists would chime in as to whether a magnet would vibrate as described under those conditions.

As long as current is flowing in the wires, it will vibrate. To get an idea of what happens; when there is an AC (alternating current) electrical signal present, a corresponding magnetic force associated with the signal, will oscillate along with it. This will induce a torque (motion) in a fixed (in this case; implanted) magnet which will oscillate (move forward and backward) with the periodicity of the signal. (For a 60Hz signal its http://users.uma.maine.edu/faculty/rsm/slides/chap4/f4-3a.gif is 1/f = 16.7msec.). Try holding a floating compass near a wire carrying current and watch what happens to the compass.

 

[NoTime]

I was hoping one of the physicists would chime in as to whether a magnet would vibrate as described under those conditions. If it does vibrate, then it's plausible that the mechanoreceptors in your fingers could detect the motion. At least, it would work until your body encapsulated the magnet in connective tissue to try to sequester the foreign object. I don't know if it would be enough to really perceive the change or not. Without knowing if the vibration would really happen, I'm not sure if this is a real sensation or a tingling due to damaged nerves in the fingertip caused by the implant and having nothing to do with EM fields.

When I was playing with magnetic sensors it was easy to detect current in say a lamp power cord. So I don't see any reason to complain about a small magnet vibrating next to one. The sensitivity of a finger is pretty high, so I wouldn't just rule it out.

OTOH there is always the "golden ear" effect, where someone that claims to be able to detect something just can't do it in a double blind test.
The variability of the reported results makes this a possibility. Variations in physiology could also come into play.
Don't know if the encapsulation effect would make a difference since the capsule would vibrate with the magnet.

I would think it would work just as well if you just glued the magnet to your finger. So maybe someone with some spare time, a suitable magnet and some glue could try it out.

I'm still not sure WHY you'd want to do that to yourself.

Makes at least as much sense as body piercing. :yuck:

 

[3trQN]

*Runs off and briskly rubs his nipple piercings up against his guitar amp magnet*

 

[NoTime]

*Runs off and briskly rubs his nipple piercings up against his guitar amp magnet*

:rofl: and the result of your experiment?

 

[Gokul43201]

I was hoping one of the physicists would chime in as to whether a magnet would vibrate as described under those conditions.

Yes, it would (try to oscillate when brought near any AC current). The strength of the forces and torques however, is what is important. And I have no idea what the sensitivity of a mechanoreceptor is like.

If it does vibrate, then it's plausible that the mechanoreceptors in your fingers could detect the motion.

Would the sensitivity be much greater than if I just stuck a piece of the same magnet (over the skin) on my fingertip? How much does it help to be embedded? Does the implant make "direct contact" with the receptor? These must sound like completely idiotic questions, but I have no idea of the spatial geometry of these things.

At least, it would work until your body encapsulated the magnet in connective tissue to try to sequester the foreign object.

Even then, the torque will be transferred to this connective tissue. But if there's a lot of lossy tissue that gets between the implant and the receptor, the signal strength (or sensation) will diminish.