A psychoSpike is a device implanted in the back of the skull that allows others to view, edit and erase memories. They can also be used to turn off the nerve reflexes of the body to paralyse someone, disable language abilities, and hijack dopamine and oxytocin levels.
The psychoSpikes were developed by Virginia au Augustus, based on the technology of Octavia au Lune's Pandemonium Chair. While Virginia calls the Pandemonium Chair a "blunt-force instrument," she says her psychoSpikes are "scalpels."
In Dark Age, she uses them on the Duke of Hands to view and then wipe his memories. Later, Lilath au Faran uses the psychoSpikes on Virginia herself.
It is possible to guard against the use of psychoSpikes through conditioning, and by implanting false memories and putting in place a self-destruct protocol that deactivates breathing and turns off the heart.
Trivia[]
- It is unknown if the effects of the psychoSpikes are permanent.
- 24 steps are required to erase someone's memories.