FOI_26-178 Neuroscience technology

Date of response: 26 August 2026

We have now considered your request of 08 August 2026 for the following information:

Question 1. Whether any UK government department, MOD unit, MOD research laboratory, subcontracted research organisation, MOD affiliated university, or police department is conducting research, testing, or operational activity involving electromagnetic, psycho electric, neurological interference, or remote neuro stimulation technologies capable of producing effects similar to the symptoms listed below:

Summary of Reported Symptoms

Cognitive / Mental

· Forced memory blanking

· Induced erroneous actions

· Perceived reading or broadcasting of thoughts

· Controlled dreams

· Forced waking visions, sometimes synchronised with body motion

Auditory / Sensory

· Sudden changes in hearing (direction, volume, or content)

· “Microwave hearing” sensations

· “Transparent eyelids” (seeing shapes through closed eyes)

· Artificial tinnitus

Physical Sensations

· Sudden violent itching inside eyelids

· Remotely induced itching without rash

· Needle like pains

Motor / Bodily Control

· Forced manipulation of airways

· Perceived externally controlled speech

· Forced jaw movement or teeth clacking

· Forced nudging of arms during delicate work

· Forced precision manipulation of hands

· Forced muscle quaking in back muscles

Cardiovascular / Bodily Responses

· Rapid heart rate without cause

Sensitive Areas

· Itching in genital areas

· Forced sexual arousal

· Intense pain in sensitive regions

Our response:

The University of East Anglia is not, and has not, conducted research, testing or operational activity involving any of the technologies mentioned in your request which can produce effects like those symptoms noted.

Outside of the Act, we wish to note that, while the School of Psychology has neuroscience equipment that is used for civil research purposes only, such systems are only used for measuring neural activity (fMRI, EEG, fNIRS), temporarily affecting limited neural activity (TMS, TDCS), and measuring other physiological signals (eyetrackers, surface electrodes for muscle, heart, GSR). Adverse reactions are very rare, unintended, and lead to the participation session being stopped. Such events are reported to the local ethics committee and University Health & Safety Services. Participant welfare is paramount and measures including informed consent, exclusion criteria (such as relevant pre-existing health conditions), and optimised technical set up, are used to mitigate against such events.

The School of Psychology at the University of East Anglia, has no current links with the MOD and does not conduct research into the use of neuroscience, physiological measures or interventions that could conceivably contribute to the development of weapons or any intended harmful effect.

Question 2. If such research or testing exists, please provide:

o The name of the programme or project

o The responsible department or unit

o Any publicly available documentation, safety guidelines, or ethics oversight procedures

• Any external regulatory bodies involved in oversight

Our response:

Not applicable.

Question 3. Whether any individuals in the UK have been enrolled, selected, monitored, or observed as part of such research, and if so:

o The number of individuals involved

o The criteria for selection

o Any consent or safeguarding requirements

• Whether vulnerable groups (students, migrants, temporary workers) are included

Our response:

Not applicable.

Question 4. Any publicly available patents, technical descriptions, or research documentation held by UK institutions relating to:

o electromagnetic stimulation technologies

o remote neural interaction systems

o psycho electric or neuro interference devices

• directed energy research

Our response:

Not applicable

Question 5. Any internal MOD, policing, or research institution policies relating to:

o human subject protection

o non consensual exposure safeguards

o testing limitations

o reporting or whistleblowing procedures

Our response:

Not applicable.