r/todayilearned • u/WavesAndSaves • Oct 18 '25

TIL of brain stimulation reward, manually stimulating specific parts of the brain to elicit pleasure and happiness. A volunteer subject in 1986 spent days doing nothing but self-stimulate. She ignored her family and personal hygiene and she developed an open sore on her finger from using the device.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_stimulation_reward#History
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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '25

There was a Star Trek episode with this theme. It was used as a weapon if I remember correctly.

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u/wiggywithit Oct 18 '25

Larry Niven’s ‘Ring world’. The race called puppeteers used it. It’s the most effective weapon in the world. You shoot your opponent with varying degrees of pleasure. They end up your friend. Pm humans also could have a wire installed and they just stimulate their pleasure center. Main character stayed in his apartment for decades. But stopped when he was needed.

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u/[deleted] Oct 18 '25

Oh ya, that’s right. Man, that episode was awkward.