# The President of Nigeria has 'rechargeable chips' implanted in his brain...WTF? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 24, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233 "2010-02-24T04:37:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/1 "2010-02-24T04:37:03Z")
The President of Nigeria has been in a Saudi Arabian Hospital since last November, rumored to be near death. Now comes a report that he has had [some kind of chip implanted in his brain](http://www.compassnews.net/Ng/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41921:yaradua-recovers-now-on-rechargeable-chips&catid=672:top-stories&Itemid=794): > [@](#): > > Doctors, last night, told the Nigerian Compass that rechargeable chips are meant to perform functions that the body ordinarily should perform. > A doctor said, “It functions like a pace maker. > > “It is like the normal computer chips, which in this case can be implanted in the brain. > “it is coded to perform certain functions that the body should perform but can no longer perform due to ill-health. > “But this is very common among patients with heart-related problems.” > > Asked if there are side effects to the use of the rechargeable chips, one of the doctors said, “A chip is an electrical device. > “Like every electrical device, the rechargeable chip can fail. > > “It is also a time-bound device in the sense that there is always a time limit for every electrical device. > “It can fail anytime. > > “And if there is the need to replace, it can lead to death at that point in time. > “So, the best bet is for it not to fail, especially if it is installed in the brain.” So the what the fork are they talking about? I have never heard of a pace-maker-like device that is implanted in the brain. Is this possible, or is it a cock-and-bull story dreamed up to mislead the Nigerian public and postpone the day when they finally admit that he is a vegetable and will never function as President again? ---
**Author:** ![ToeJam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dfb087/32.png) [@ToeJam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ToeJam)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/2 "2010-02-24T05:12:54Z")
Do you mean something like [Neural Implants](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_implant)? I know they have them for certain Seizure cases, and some would argue that a cochlear implant would fall into this category as well. There are several types of devices though that can be inserted into the head though, is this the sorta thing you were wondering about? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/3 "2010-02-24T06:11:08Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > …Is this possible, or is it a cock-and-bull story dreamed up to mislead the Nigerian public and postpone the day when they finally admit that he is a vegetable and will never function as President again? Say what? The Nigerians making up a cock-and-bull story to con the public? Never. ---
**Author:** ![Claude\_Remains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@Claude\_Remains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claude_Remains)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/4 "2010-02-24T06:49:04Z")
]Richard Pryor["Look–up in the sky! It’s a crow! It’s a bat! It’s …] Richard Pryor[ Super Nigerian? ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/5 "2010-02-24T10:17:11Z")
My name is Motumbo Awad and I am the Minister of Finance for the President of Nigeria. Unfortunately the President is about to die. But fortunatly for you his estate of 60 Million dollars has been left to me. If you will help me move this money from the Swiss bank account you will be awarded the sum of Six Million Dollars. Please send me your Name, Address, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Mother’s maiden name, PIN numbers, Favorite color, pet’s name, preferred sexual position, height, weight, eye color, and shoe size. I assure you that this information will be kept confidential. Thank you and may the god of your choice bless you. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/6 "2010-02-24T11:00:45Z")
[Brain pacemakers have been in use since 1997 to ease the symptoms of such diseases as epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, dystonia and recently depression. Current brain implants are made from a variety of materials such as tungsten, silicon, platinum-iridium, or even stainless steel. Future brain implants may make use of more exotic materials such as nanoscale carbon fibers (nanotubes), and polycarbonate urethane.]([Brain implant - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_implant)) ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/7 "2010-02-24T11:06:34Z")
There’s nothing odd in he story that I can see. These things are old hat. The only thing that could sound a little odd is: "this is very common among patients with heart-related problems”. However that should be read in context. The doctor isn’t saying that brain implants are common in heart patients. She is saying that “implants that perform functions that a diseased body no longer can” are common in heart patients. And that statement is also absolutely true. Pacemakers are a device that performs functions that a diseased body no longer can, and pacemakers are common in heart patients. ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/8 "2010-02-24T12:52:06Z")
> [@Peanuthead](#): > > My name is Motumbo Awad and I am the Minister of Finance for the President of Nigeria. Unfortunately the President is about to die. But fortunatly for you his estate of 60 Million dollars has been left to me. If you will help me move this money from the Swiss bank account you will be awarded the sum of Six Million Dollars. Please send me your Name, Address, Social Security Number, Date of Birth, Mother’s maiden name, PIN numbers, Favorite color, pet’s name, preferred sexual position, height, weight, eye color, and shoe size. I assure you that this information will be kept confidential. > Thank you and may the god of your choice bless you. Sending you a PM right now. Please deliver in small bills. Oh, and take out $50 for yourself. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![heavyarms553](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@heavyarms553](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heavyarms553)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-president-of-nigeria-has-rechargeable-chips-implanted-in-his-brain-wtf/530233/9 "2010-02-25T02:48:11Z")
Deep brain stimulation works REALLY well on Parkinsons. I have seen people make complete recoveries to a symptom free state while under the effects of DBS. Whats even cooler is that you can turn the stimulation on and off and immediately see the parkinsonian tremors return and subside accordingly. Sadly, the effects don’t last forever, as the DBS only masks the substantia nigra degradation. As the damage worsens, the DBS loses the ability to mask it. Its similar to how cholinergics mask Alzheimer’s disease but don’t cure it. Vagal stimulation has been used for the treatment of depression, but that can be pretty hit or miss. Lots of side effects.