Scientists came up with an implant that prevents you from overeating

In a pilot trial researchers surgically implanted a device into the brains of two obese binge eating sufferers. With encouraging results establishing the groundwork for a future in which implants can manage a range of impulsive behaviours, the gadget was created to identify and block brain signals linked to binge-eating.

According to a study from 2017, the nucleus accumbens region of the brain may play a role in the development of detrimental impulsive behaviour like binge eating.

The two participants of this year’s experiment were both morbidly obese and had a clinical diagnosis of binge-eating disorder. The patients were monitored for around six months after undergoing surgery to implant a brain stimulation device with electrodes that targeted the nucleus accumbens. 

After the initial period of observation and recording, researchers turned on the implants, each of which was programmed with the unique binge-eating neurological trigger for each patient. The device is made to independently switch its electrical bursts on and off as it detects the desired brain activity. 

The findings indicate that the pattern of brain activity observed occurs between 50– 60% of the time when patients are awake, not just when they are having loss of control episodes. This suggests that the current settings may stimulate patients more frequently than is necessary. 

There is still a lot more work to be done before researchers can fully understand how to control impulsive behaviours like excessive eating. This research, however, does indicate a future in which it may be viable for brain implants to do so.