Nerve induction
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Nerve induction is a hypothetical method of creating a sensation by stimulation of the sensory nerves rather than by actual stimulus, mostly used as a plot device in science fiction.
History
[edit]The concept is mentioned in the 1965 science fiction novel Dune by Frank Herbert as a method to inflict pain with no actual injury.
No known real-life analogues of such a device currently exist. However, the effect sometime occurs as a side effect of transcranial magnetic stimulation. In addition, a number of non-lethal pain compliance devices have been developed. The most reminiscent of Herbert's fictional device is the microwave-based Active Denial System (ADS), which shows many of the same traits, but uses microwaves rather than nerve induction.