Neuro-Cascade Failure
A mental ailment related to an overload of the neural pathways present in every clones brain. Similar to Mnemonic_Meltdown
Typically not of extreme severity, long term effects are mostly limited to headaches as indicated by the Fixed Period Survey. Worst case scenario includes a total mental collapse, but this is exceedingly rare as it has happened only once during a survey over the past 20 years. There exists speculation that mortality is also a common result, but as yet, no clone has reported death as one of the symptoms on their survey interview form, so this is purely speculation.
However, over the short-term, Neuro-Cascade failure is much more distressing, symptoms almost invariably include hallucinations, delusions of paranoia, and grandeur. Gibbering is also not uncommon though is as likely to occur under placebo.
The direct cause of Neuro-cascade failure is as yet unknown, but there is a high correlation between it and psycho-active subliminal suggestion, as present in the Best_Good_Happy_Sector_Hour. Direct mental programming, as through the Helmet_Of_Education has also shown a notable correlation. While only 2% of the users of the helmet will suffer NCF, approximately 32% of those who suffered NCF have also indicated using a Helmet_Of_Education. However, it should be noted that since the CyberHack_Programming_Helmet operates on many of the same principles, we should see a similar correlation. While the clone possessing the lone prototype helmet has not yet been found to be properly interviewed, Servs-U recently made a discovery of three CyberHack helments in his sector, so it is hoped that more data can be obtained soon.
As a side note, this discovery of three fully functioning CyberHack helmets raises some questions on its own, such as why their manufacture was not logged, and who ordered it. Hopefully we can pull some data out of the Remote_Surveillance_Drones that were sent to Syntelligent_Systems.. once we can find them again that is.
In addition, in certain segments of the population, NCF can have more long-ranging effects. It has been calculated that the Kaleidoscope_Conspiracy is 71% likely to have been a direct result of a mass afflication of NCF. As such, all citizens should make every effort to reduce the amount of information they take in. We'd hate to have another incident such as that disturbing my bath.
-- Watt-U-GOT-9
Refs: Best_Good_Happy_Sector_Hour, CyberHack_Programming_Helmet, Helmet_Of_Education, Mnemonic_Meltdown, Remote_Surveillance_Drones, Syntelligent_Systems
Commentary:
I know there's been some suggestion that Holistic_Medicine might prove to be effective against NCF-- not as a treatment of symptoms, mind you, but as a cure for root systemic cause (whatever that means) and even as a preventative. I'm not sure I believe it myself, but perhaps someone should start some testing on some INFRARED_Citizens somewhere just in case, since more and more Alpha technology is relying on the direct-neural input/output protocols used by the various Helmets.
As for Syntelligent_Systems, I must say... I'm quite concerned about the news that keeps coming out of that place. At first I thought they were merely incompetent, but now I'm starting to suspect something much more deliberate...
-- Knok-U-OUT-6
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