Health Issue: 'Pacemaker'

'Pacemaker for brain may treat Parkinson's       Washington: Disorders such as depression or Parkinson's may be helped by stimulating certain areas of brain with controlled precision, says a study, encouraging scientists to create a pacemaker for the brain.        But because controlling that stimulation presently lacks precision, over stimulation is a concern. A Tel Aviv University (TAU) team, part of a European consortium, is trying to create a chip to help doctors wire computer applications and sensors to brain. The chip will provide deep brain stimulation precisely where and when it's needed.        The team records activity using electrodes implanted in diseased areas of the brain. Based on an analysis of this activity, they develop algorithms to simulate healthy reuronal activity which is programmed into a microchip and fed back into the brain. The chip, Rehabilitaion Nano Chip (or ReNaChip), is hooked up to tiny electrodes implanted in the brain.