I think that Special Agent Greg might be on to something here.
This article is interesting from a purely scientific perspective for what it demonstrates about perception and the brain. And then there is the “use for evil” angle…
They gloss over the transcranial magnetic stimulation, but it is a technology that uses intense magnetic fields to temporarily shut off areas of the brain. They can make versions small enough to be hand held and portable.
Researchers are using the devices to more or less hack the brain. The only practical application of which I am aware is for treating depression.
I can envision other uses if you could construct one in such a way that you could use it on people without their knowledge. For instance stimulating the brain region described in the article would seem to give you the ability described in the old Shadow radio series as “the ability to cloud men’s minds.”
I will begin construction immediately. The first version will probably be large, so I will design it to be concealed in a conference room. I will be starting my own business and selling…something. I don’t think the product will really matter.
Now You See It, Now You Don’t: ‘Change Blindness’ Isn’t Magic
I think I’ll see what happens if you try this with a super magnet. The effect is more than likely due to a pulsed magnetic field so it will need a nice big solenoid to get the desired “ability to cloud men’s minds”.
Greg, I’ll get the wire and soft iron, you go find an expendable lab assistant.