America will create 'super soldiers'

The National Association of Science (NAS) has published a report evaluating the applicability of neuroscience and science to create super-skilled combatants both psychologically and superior combat capability.

Under US military funding, the top 14 neuroscientists studied the ability to use biomarkers to assess a soldier's brain activity, moving forward to predict each individual's response to pressure. the environment is too hot, too cold .

Genetic testing finds forte

Genetic testing can help officers choose the most suitable person for each specific task. Combining psychological testing with genetic testing of brain chemistry can clarify the ability of soldiers.

'If a person has serotonin, he tends to stay calm in stressful situations. So he can become a good gunner , 'said Paul Zak, one of the 14 authors of the report. People with low levels of dopamine rarely appear reckless, so are suitable for commanding civil society.

However, the selection of soldiers according to genetics is likely to cause some troubles. For example, military personnel who are not selected to take up a position may sue the employer on the grounds of genetic discrimination. Anders Sandberg, a neuroscientist at the Institute for Human Future at Oxford University, said the military also needed to choose the traits that they wanted to optimize in each particular stage. 'Currently, the battlefield changes very quickly. War is more like a computer game. This means that in the future, having a genotype that will help you become a physically strong warrior may not be as important as having great coordination between your hands and eyes , 'he said.

A worse possibility is that neuroscience scientists can create cognitive deviant warriors. For example, they are less emotional, almost without emotion.

Zak's research work focuses on the role of oxytocin in belief and empathy. If people develop drugs that interfere with the production of this hormone and for soldiers to use, their sympathy for the opponent or commoner may be reduced.

'There are many stories about soldiers who refused to shoot other soldiers. If you get rid of the sympathetic reaction, you can create soldiers willing to fight and risk your life , 'Zak said.

Conscious of the ethical issue of their research, the authors report to the US military to recruit ethics to consider the relevant aspects before applying research results to practice. 'We have to control the situation,' Zak said.

Neuroscience is also capable of saving lives in a military context. If you know the soldiers who have suffered from low stress, officers can prevent unfortunate incidents. In mid-May, Sergeant John Russell (USA) was accused of shooting five comrades. Previously, Russell was in Iraq for 15 months and had to undergo stress treatment.

A feasible application in the near future is the monitoring of the morale of the soldiers to see if they are stressed or tired. Many errors arise due to loss of concentration, so monitoring the level of attention will bring great benefits. The studies included in the report show an association between blood flow variability and oxidation with some distractions. Therefore, fitting the sensor in the hat to track these changes can warn the soldiers and their units of declining attention.

Hi-tech equipment to the teeth

The NAS report also mentioned the ability to equip military equipment and military equipment. For example, the digital device worn by the arm helps warn of the danger of approaching or translating foreign languages; aiming target shoots into a bright spot on the hat-mounted screen; Ultra-light, ultra-durable made of nano materials; uniform with biological sensors to monitor health status; The armor covering the thighs adapts itself to the gait, energizes itself .

The report addresses areas of investment in each stage. Within the first 5 years, priority areas are virtual reality, heart rate changes and skin reactions. From the next 5 to 10 years, focus on developing the type of cap to measure the electrical activity of the brain, the device to protect the head and the body and the biological marker used to predict the reaction of the soldiers to the power. environmental press. In the period of 10-20 years later, the area that needs to invest the most is transcranial magnetic stimulation and brain scanning for physiological assessment.

Floyd Bloom, the team leader for the report, said that investing in science and technology research and application is not only beneficial for the military but also for the society. 'Investing in such opportunities will benefit the community by improving the way we educate our children, as well as understanding us more,' he said.