Neurones transmit electrical impulses that travel rapidly along the plasma membrane of the cells, all the way to the synaptic cleft, where the chemical impulses are then transmitted to the postsynaptic neurone by the transfer of neurotransmitters. Along the axon, the nerve impulses will “jump” from one myelin sheath to another upon reaching the node of Ranvier so as to transfer the impulses.
Motor Neurone
Now the speed at which the electrical impulses travel via the nerves ranges from 0.5 to 100ms-1. The higher the potential difference of the electrical impulse, the higher will the frequency of the impulses transferred be. Okay, enough of Biology already, let’s move on to some Particle Physics.
Linear Accelerator
A linear accelerator (LINAC) accelerates a bunch of electrons from a proton source through drift tubes of increasing lengths, which are separated by a vacuum gap. This occurs in the supply of alternating current which alternates at a similar frequency as that of the electrons, thus when the electrons reach the end of a drift tube, the polarity of the positive end of a drift tube reverses such that the end becomes negative, and the beginning of the next one becomes positive. In other words, upon the reversal of current direction, one end “pushes” the electrons and the next one “attracts” them. The electrons are accelerated when they travel through the vacuum space between the drift tubes and to cope with the increase in electron velocity, the length of the next tube is increased (v=s/t). The length successively increases, hence the speed of the electrons increases as they move along.
Imagine the node of Ranvier from the neurones serving a similar purpose as the vacuum space does. That said, the area of which the electrical impulses “jump” between myelin sheaths is made to be vacuum, allowing electrical impulses to accelerate and be transferred faster or to suit the theory, be transferred at a higher frequency. To compensate for the increase in impulse velocity and to prevent the death of a father of four from a sudden explosion of his behinds as a poor repercussion to falling on his tuchus in the toilet, the length of the myelin sheaths could be increased.
Enter nanotechnology. Have you seen the nanomites in G.I. Joe - The Rise of Cobra? You know, the small little imps that chewed a plane in a matter of seconds, the ones that said Fish You to the Eiffel Tower within a snap of your finger? These are robots assembled in nano level (1×10-9m) and can be made to function to the designer’s wish. So here, nanotechnology is applicable to restructure the nerve cells and rewiring your entire system, minus the brain. A “transformer” cell is enough to step-up the magnitude of the electrical impulses. And since creating nanospaces of vacuum inside the human body is as impossible as getting Miley Cyrus to die a virgin death, the vacuum can be conjured by enclosing the node of Ranvier with an unreactive metal (or organic polymers that are insoluble and unreactive) and pumping the air out of these discreet gaps. How so? You produce your own microfactory and insert process equations and calculations via supercomputers for it to function. As for the Alternating-Current supply, simply attach a continuous wire segments along the "transformer" axon with alternate poles affixed to alternate myelin sheaths which is connected to a voltaic cell, which depends solely on the chemical interactions within the body to generate its own potential difference, just like that of a cardiac pacemaker! But I'm a kiasu, so I'd instead turn to a cutting-edge remote ultrasound energy source, which uses an ultrasound transducer on the limb (corresponding to that where the artificial nerves are found) to transmit energy to a receiver electrode on the tip of the transvenously placed electrophysiology catherer.
In short, you get to play God.
By increasing the frequency of nerve impulses, one can slash the time lapse between detection of a stimulus and response towards the stimulus. Your metabolic rate grossly increases, hence the production of ATPs from cellular respiration. This could shed a new light to the stretching of human potential! Think about it, the speed of almost anything you do increases – running, swimming, punching (force applied too), eating – except for thinking. Yup, unless you rewire the upper circuit, the rate of juice flow up there will remain the same.
This technology could be applied to restore the potential of professionals or just about anyone who’s paralysed or suffered an accident, which ceases them from their motor skills. Doctors could restore functions to a person whose limbs are decapitated, inducing life into the prosthetic parts directly from the brain. And don’t get me started on its application in the military field!
However helpful the prosthetic nerve cells are, they too, are subjected to limitations. Firstly, the attempt to rewire every nerve in the body is laughable due to its impossibility. Not to mention the high chances of tissue death should the procedure of neurone replacement consumes a hell of a time. Recalling my suggestion earlier, it could be done at a microscopic level. And if I’d ever get such a transplant, an MRI machine isn’t exactly the kinda device I’d consider approaching. Imagine getting your nerves ripped out of your flesh onto a super magnet with your eyeballs dangling from it (the eyes are part of the peripheral nervous system too, after all). So maybe I’d restructure my nerves from a non-metal. Also, should you injure your limbs like, say, getting a deep cut on your triceps (ouch!), the entire mechanism of the nervous system is disrupted and fixing stuff at a nano level is excruciatingly painful. Ask any watchmakers, they’d know. To solve this, I'd propose a lock-and-key mechanism which binds parted continuous structures into a working system. Thus, should my wrist get injured from a gang fight (the guy who messed with me suffered heavy injuries and not the other way around, I assure you), I can choose to replace the connection of nerves between my elbow to the phalanges (fingers) instead.
There, a prospective theory from me, infusing neural science, quantum physics and a bit of nanotechnology. I swear I’m just using the big terms to sell my modest idea. It’s funny you sometimes sound intelligent when all you do is use some big words to exaggerate a puny idea that ran through your mind at times. I welcome comments and criticisms (with fair, scientific reasoning) pertaining to this concept.
Oh, and before I end, please be informed that I’ll be off the blogosphere for the coming three weeks to in respect of my finals. Unlike the previous one, I’m looking forward to make this test a blast, so do expect a hiatus from me until the 20th of November. You may expect a higher rate of posting then henceforth. Till then…
=)
