General Discussion

choie

(4,111 posts) Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:21 PM Oct 2013

Pentagon spending $70 million on brain research

Could somebody please explain to me why the Pentagon would be involved in brain research, specifically on using electronic implants for the treatment of depression?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/science/pentagon-agency-to-spend-70-million-on-brain-research.html?hp&_r=0

22 replies

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Pentagon spending $70 million on brain research (Original Post) choie Oct 2013 OP

The military have way too much money to play with pscot Oct 2013 #1

They have all our money. nt valerief Oct 2013 #3

This message was self-deleted by its author DisgustipatedinCA Oct 2013 #2

It's actually billion with an M. OP's subject is incorrect. (nt) Posteritatis Oct 2013 #10

Thank you. I think I'll self-delete. n/t DisgustipatedinCA Oct 2013 #18

It's $70 million n/t leftstreet Oct 2013 #4

70 million is nothing to the military. Rex Oct 2013 #5

I don't care how much they are spending... choie Oct 2013 #11

Like a few here have already posted, it might be to help identify PTSD. Rex Oct 2013 #12

It's not really strange leftstreet Oct 2013 #14

It's not the least tiniest bit strange. (nt) Posteritatis Oct 2013 #22

I'll take the continuing sequester for $83 billion ...Alex. L0oniX Oct 2013 #6

Or $24 billion for the Tea Party shutdown. Rex Oct 2013 #9

Are you actually not clear on why they would? Posteritatis Oct 2013 #7

Given how many soldiers are suffering from severe brain injuries, it is appropriate. FarCenter Oct 2013 #8

I suppose that's true.. choie Oct 2013 #13

Aircraft carries-60 billion dollars, making your enemies too depressed to fight...priceless HereSince1628 Oct 2013 #16

To cure or prevent PSTD? Abnredleg Oct 2013 #15

Jeesus Christ choie Oct 2013 #17

Annoyance at people emoting away without looking at or thinking about the story, I'd guess. (nt) Posteritatis Oct 2013 #21

From the article: geek tragedy Oct 2013 #19

PTSD. Isn't the NFL pouring big bucks into head injuries too? FSogol Oct 2013 #20

pscot

(21,024 posts)

1. The military have way too much money to play with

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:24 PM

Oct 2013

valerief

(53,235 posts)

3. They have all our money. nt

Reply to pscot (Reply #1)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:29 PM

Oct 2013

Response to choie (Original post)

DisgustipatedinCA This message was self-deleted by its author.

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)

10. It's actually billion with an M. OP's subject is incorrect. (nt)

Reply to DisgustipatedinCA (Reply #2)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:33 PM

Oct 2013

DisgustipatedinCA

(12,530 posts)

18. Thank you. I think I'll self-delete. n/t

Reply to Posteritatis (Reply #10)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:42 PM

Oct 2013

leftstreet

(36,109 posts)

4. It's $70 million n/t

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:29 PM

Oct 2013

Rex

(65,616 posts)

5. 70 million is nothing to the military.

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:31 PM

Oct 2013

Chump change.

choie

(4,111 posts)

11. I don't care how much they are spending...

Reply to Rex (Reply #5)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:33 PM

Oct 2013

I care why they are spending it. It seems a very strange initiative for an agency that specializes in defense, war and spying.

Rex

(65,616 posts)

12. Like a few here have already posted, it might be to help identify PTSD.

Reply to choie (Reply #11)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:34 PM

Oct 2013

nt.

leftstreet

(36,109 posts)

14. It's not really strange

Reply to choie (Reply #11)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:35 PM

Oct 2013

Soldiers, brain injuries, depression, PTSD, etc

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)

22. It's not the least tiniest bit strange. (nt)

Reply to choie (Reply #11)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 07:32 PM

Oct 2013

L0oniX

(31,493 posts)

6. I'll take the continuing sequester for $83 billion ...Alex.

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:31 PM

Oct 2013

Rex

(65,616 posts)

9. Or $24 billion for the Tea Party shutdown.

Reply to L0oniX (Reply #6)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:33 PM

Oct 2013

Green Eggs and Ham indeed.

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)

7. Are you actually not clear on why they would?

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:32 PM

Oct 2013

TBI and PTSD are the signature injuries of modern warfare - not just the American military, but pretty much all militaries, for a variety of reasons.

The US Army alone probably has tens of thousands of reasons it wants to look into that sort of thing, to say nothing of the millions of other people who stand to benefit from improvements in DBS therapies.

(Also: Fix your subject line. You're off by three orders of magnitude.)

FarCenter

(19,429 posts)

8. Given how many soldiers are suffering from severe brain injuries, it is appropriate.

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:33 PM

Oct 2013

choie

(4,111 posts)

13. I suppose that's true..

Reply to FarCenter (Reply #8)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:34 PM

Oct 2013

I automatically am suspicious when it comes to the Pentagon.

HereSince1628

(36,063 posts)

16. Aircraft carries-60 billion dollars, making your enemies too depressed to fight...priceless

Reply to FarCenter (Reply #8)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:37 PM

Oct 2013

Abnredleg

(670 posts)

15. To cure or prevent PSTD?

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:35 PM

Oct 2013

And it's $70 million over five years - no $70 BILLION.

The article clearly explains why they are doing this. I suggest you read it.

choie

(4,111 posts)

17. Jeesus Christ

Reply to Abnredleg (Reply #15)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:39 PM

Oct 2013

Get over yourself. What's with the attitude?

Posteritatis

(18,807 posts)

21. Annoyance at people emoting away without looking at or thinking about the story, I'd guess. (nt)

Reply to choie (Reply #17)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 07:31 PM

Oct 2013

geek tragedy

(68,868 posts)

19. From the article:

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:43 PM

Oct 2013

This is particularly true for illnesses and injuries that affect networks in the brain. Darpa, he said, is “trying to change the game on how we approach these kinds of problems.” The project is largely inspired by the needs of combat veterans who suffer from mental and physical conditions.

FSogol

(45,490 posts)

20. PTSD. Isn't the NFL pouring big bucks into head injuries too?

Reply to choie (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 06:46 PM

Oct 2013

Hopefully this will pay dividends down the road.

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