Navy Wants Troops Wearing Brain-Scanners Into War

Submitted by MacRonin on January 14, 2010 - 1:04pm

Navy Wants Troops Wearing Brain-Scanners Into War: Via Danger Room.

The Pentagon’s been pushing for better ways to diagnose, treat and prevent wartime brain injuries. Last year, they requested proposals for pharmacological methods to stave off PTSD. New genetic tests and brain scans, meant to identify war-fighters who are “vulnerable” to stress reactions, are ongoing. Now, the Navy’s looking to speed up the diagnosis of brain trauma, with a portable, weather-proof, multipurpose brain scanner.

The Navy’s Bureau of Medicine and Surgery is requesting proposals for a brain-scanning system that can assess a myriad of neuro-cognitive abilities, including reaction times, problem solving and memory recall.

The scanner would also test for preliminary warning signs of post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression, using the Trail-Making Test: a series of connect-the-dot exercises that’s been used by the military since the 1940s. And not only should the system be portable, but the Navy wants it to outlast the most extreme weather conditions, from desert heat to Arctic cold.

Portable brain-trauma screening might be exactly what the Pentagon needs to get a grip on the growing number of vets coming home with symptoms of post-traumatic stress. Cases often go unreported or undiagnosed, and stigma can prevent vets from seeking help when they notice delayed-onset symptoms.

The Navy’s hoping for a quick turnaround: They want prototype testing on 160 deployed troops in four different geographic settings, done by March 2011. Other military branches are investing in portable PTSD devices, too. Last year, the DoD handed out grants for portable at-home software gadgets for injured vets, and are also after the widespread use of sleep-monitoring systems that could track returning troop’s health overnight.

Photo: USMC

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