Snorting a Brain Chemical Could Replace Sleep

Development of a nasal spray containing a natural hormone orexin A, as an effort to offset a variety of situations through which individuals suffer from sleep deprivation.  According to the article, the first application would be for individuals suffering from sleep apnea, but would be tested for soldiers/pilots to allow longer time on duty and could become a popular drug for individuals who work/study for loonger hours.  I can only imagine there would be an immediate consideration for ER doctors and support specialists working after natural disasters, though there is no comment on how this might effect fatigue.

They mention coffee users, who self-medicate as an effort to overcome the effects of poor sleep habits, and this reminds me of the introduction of caffeinated water and reports of how people began to make coffee using this extra source of caffeine.  As such, how soon might orexin A begin to appear in coffee chains, sports drinks and as a “shot” in our smoothie?  But, the combination of orexin A and caffeine may benefit those who require mental and physical lifts, as there is much concern over the use of caffeine in professional/collegiate sports to gain an edge. 

MIT Finds Cure for Fear

Fascinating article about work on a drug treatment designed to help individuals overcome persistent fear.  Summed up best in these paragraphs (quoted from the site):

In the current research, genetically engineered mice received mild
foot shocks in a certain environment and were re-exposed to the same
environment without the foot shock.

The team found that mice with increased levels of Cdk5 activity had
more trouble letting go of the memory of the foot shock and continued
to freeze in fear.

The reverse was also true: in mice whose Cdk5 activity was
inhibited, the bad memory of the shocks disappeared when the mice
learned that they no longer needed to fear the environment where the
foot shocks had once occurred.

While learning how best to manage this blog, I am slowly learning how to categorize posts.  This article was a challenge and I believe it ranges across many.  I’ll break it down by the categories I selected (and wonder if this might be a good idea going forward):

Body alteration: Could individuals choose to have a permanent body modification which would render them fearless?  Is there a benefit to this?  If so, what are the possible psychological ramifications?  Is fear a necessary part of our mental balance, to the point that a loss of it might effect along the lines of sleep deprivation?

Conflict: Fearless soldiers?  I can imagine Saddam Hussein would have been more than happy to inhibit fear from his soldiers as U.S. troops approached.  It certainly would have hardened their resistance and kept so many from fleeing.  Though, there would have to be a fine balance.  Too much inhibition and the the fight or flight response fails.  Troops no longer suffer the adrenal edge (though there are plenty of chemicals to replace it) and may even lose a natural, and beneficial, intuition to flee, thus stacking up extra casualties.

Faith: I believe one of the greatest benefits of faith is the support needed to overcome fear and anxiety.  If the doctors can use a chemical “seance” to remove the Devil, what need is there for God?

Healing: Is it possible that AIDS and cancer patient, or any person suffering from a possible terminal disease, immune systems suffer from the ongoing fear of death?  Having never suffered from such illness, I can only imagine there is a massive amount of stress inflicted upon the mind and body.  Is it possible a suppression of fear might allow a greater chance of success in overcoming any disease?

Psychology: I think the article speaks to this directly.

Rest and sleep: Linked in with Healing, might a relief from fear allow certain individuals a better ability to recover or just to sleep?