Controlled paralysis

[Zack R.]

Is it possible currently, or theoretically, to stop only intentional action potentials from moving away from the brain(wouldn't want to stop the heart and lungs) to the body without the use of drugs so that the brain remains active while the body is disabled? Like an on/off switch for body motion.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Zack R.

[Xalatan]

The reason anaesthetics work is because they are sodium channel blockers. In theory, biochemically you may be able to achieve the same by altering the electrolyte composition of the extracelluklar fluid - eg. Controlled hyponatraemia, or controlled hypercalcaemia. I wouldn't try hypokalaemia because it's probably not safe to play around with serum potassium concentrations, unless you did it super slowly. But sodium and calcium levels may be more adaptable.

 

No sure how you could limit the electrolyte changes to a specific part of the body though.

Edited April 30, 2016 by Xalatan

[John Cuthber]

This might help

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

On the whole it's not considered a pleasant experience.

[Xalatan]

Actually to reinforce my point, there is a set of channelopathy diseases related to potassium, sodium, and calcium ion channels called periodic paralysis. So I'd say manipulating electrolyte composition may allow controlled paralysis.

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypokalemic_periodic_paralysis

[Zack R.]

Thank you, that was quite helpful.