In Larry Niven’s Known Space series of sF stories, there is a phenomenon called Wireheading; a person has a small socket installed in their cranium, attached to a wire that threads into the the brain, enabling the direct stimulation of the ‘pleasure centre’*.
The idea is posited as a drug-like experience and some of the side effects (addiction to the point where the user never switches off the stimulation and simply wastes away) are explored.
But how close is it to being possible?
*Is there really a very tight locus of brain material that is responsible for pleasure?
Would direct electrical stimulation of the brain actually work?
Would there be any long-term effects (such as loss of response to the stimulus)?
A lot of the material is a bit on the sensationalistic side, but there are a lot of informative links and case studies presented. Interesting reading, to say the least.
There has been a lot of promising research on direct stimulation to improve the lives of those suffering from epilepsy and depression. [This article describes vagal nerve stimulation as “a wonderful portal into the base of the brain.”
Also, work has been done on electrode implants into the visual center of the brain for blind people - this is at a more rudimentary stage, with implants along the lines of a 10x10 matrix - enough to form letters or shapes, but not enough to recognize faces.
There has been a lot of promising research on direct stimulation to improve the lives of those suffering from epilepsy and depression. This article describes vagal nerve stimulation as “a wonderful portal into the base of the brain.”
Also, work has been done on electrode implants into the visual center of the brain for blind people - this is at a more rudimentary stage, with implants along the lines of a 10x10 matrix - enough to form letters or shapes, but not enough to recognize faces.