http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcranial_magnetic_stimulation Actually it can be done contact-free. I don't know anything about the depression studies in this article, but it does seem to have convincing effects for some brain mapping - for motor it is verifiable using peripheral electrodes.

+1. Ribbon annoyed me for the first day or so I had to use it, but once I got the hang of it I realized that I was spending at least 1 and usually 2+ fewer clicks to do what I needed. It is actually very well-designed and provides a considerable productivity boost.

Not a, uh, user - but here's an interesting background article: http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/09/prison-without-walls/8195/

Plumbing of this sort is pretty common for people with hydrocephalus - too much fluid and thus pressure in the brain. In those cases, a small programmable (magnetocouple) valve is installed to maintain a set intra-cranial fluid pressure. One tube runs from the valve into the brain ventricles, and a drainage tube is then run from the valve (affixed to the skullbone), down past the ear, through the neck, and into a chest cavity. The placement is done using a stiff insertion tube/rod which is pushed under the skin from the head down to the target area in the chest (it's pretty damn painful to watch). I would assume that something similar is done with these wires. The point is to seal everything inside the skin for an internally closed system to minimize infection risk. -IANABS (but I do work for one)