BRAINS
Crit Help: Lucy, Magnum MacKivler
Containment Class:
esoteric
Secondary Class:
Cernunnos
Spectral cross-section of an SCP-XXXX instance. Prominence over the baseline suggests deactivation is occurring. A craniotomy was performed on the subject in order to expose the structure.
Special Containment Procedures
The intrinsic effects of SCP-XXXX means that the containment or neutralization of its numerous instances would jeopardize the normalcy and standard functioning of humanity. Regardless, use of routine primary containment controls would be logistically infeasible. Alternative containment procedures have been drafted that mitigate the logistical and ethical concerns - but none are presently approved for implementation.
06/2/1998: A test-run of the Bohm-Pribram [Interference Neutralization] procedures within a real-world environment has been approved.
01/12/2000: Please note: The above section of the containment procedures has been nullified. Reclassification of SCP-XXXX is in process, and new summarized procedures have not been inserted.
The ubiquity of SCP-XXXX instances ensures a constant threat of public detection. All public research related to SCP-XXXX is to be suppressed. Certain bodies of research will consistently require suppression, e.g. neuroscience. At the moment, the only known ways of affecting or detecting SCP-XXXX is protected Foundation technology. Outside detection will likely involve unique experimental methods.
It is critical that an individual's SCP-XXXX instance is kept in a nominal state. Personnel are to have their cranial lining examined and tested before allowing interaction with Hume field anomalies. Scranton Reality Anchors included - an SRA can permanently neutralize an SCP-XXXX instance if the cranial lining is compromised. Cranial lining test equipment is to be provided to the Foundation Medical Department for this purpose.
Individuals affected by a significantly irregular SCP-XXXX instance are to be cautiously monitored, especially if the instance is hyperactivated. Psychiatric treatment is to be provided once conditions stabilize.
Reality-benders inadvertently created by SCP-XXXX hyperactivation are to be terminated. Individuals affected in this matter are extremely dangerous to themselves and others, and have expired in a catastrophic matter in all observed cases, regardless of treatment.
12/5/1996: Research of SCP-XXXX requires Ethics Committee and O5 Council approval.
Description:
SCP-XXXX instances are enormously complex, self-sustaining regions of evolving Hume potential. These instances are always usually spatially locked to within some region of a host entity. In human hosts, this region is the brain's volume. SCP-XXXX instances have only been detected within human hosts.
In the context of humans, experimentation and statistical analysis has shown strong functional connectivity between an SCP-XXXX system and its host individual. This connectivity has been narrowed down into direct associations with various human phenomena, including:
- Developmental disorders, e.g autism.
- Emotional relationships between humans. Strongest correlation is with empathy.
- Response to strong emotions, such as grief.
- Out-of-body experiences.
- Thought processes related self-conceptualization, such as self-image and personal identity.
- Memory recall of past experience, and the conscious awareness of current experience.
Technical Construction:
Fundamentally, an SCP-XXXX instance is composed of self-sustaining chains of Hume field interaction phenomena. These chains can be thought of as reaction chains, analogous to phenomena found in particle physics or chemistry. These reaction chains are the basic components of highly interconnected webs, loosely defining discrete structures. These structures are plastic and loosely bound. As the structures interact, merge, connect, etc. with other similar structures, they form a loose, complex network, which is the SCP-XXXX system.
Model of Dynamic Behavior:
A complete scientific model of SCP-XXXX has not been created, despite great effort by Foundation researchers. Nevertheless, SCP-XXXX instances have some known consistent parameters, properties, or features that are fully described. Some include:
- System activity, which is roughly analogous to a brain's neural activity. While modelling activity is extremely difficult, measuring activity is not. Regions of high activity may indicate functional processes or system maintenance tasks.
- The activation parameter, which can be thought of as the divergence (inward or outward flux) of the entire system. Activation will tend to 0 over time, as long as reality is stable.
- The coupling forces, which spatially translate particles within the SCP-XXXX system toward some other stable point within the host. When a force is applied, no point within an a SCP-XXXX system will map outside the region perimeter. This creates the boundary of the system. The continuous sum of these forces are what causes the system to become spatially locked to its host.
- The weighting values. The weight of a point within the system is what modulates the numerous interactions that exist between that point and some other corresponding system within the host. In humans, the corresponding systems are components of the brain. The sum of all weighting in an SCP-XXXX system describes the complete relationship between the instance and its host.
Irregular SCP-XXXX States:
SCP-XXXX instances can, through various circumstances, be malformed into an irregular state. An instance in an irregular state will affect its host. Known irregular states are listed below:
- Irregular activation: Condition where the system's activation is significantly distant from nominal activation. Irregular activation is associated with two differing sets of behavior, depending on if the system is being hyperactivated (div. < 0, extra reality flows inwards) or deactivated (div. > 0, reality drains outwards).
- Lock drift: Condition where coupling forces displace from the bounded region. The system may appear physically outside of the host in this condition.
- Decoupling: Condition where the coupling forces no longer attach the system to its host. Has never been observed.
- Neutralization: System no longer exists. Significantly affects the host.
Foundation Medical Department Memo:
Foundation Medical Department Internal Memo
Dr. Emily Hawk, M.D.
I've compiled the following information in order to clear things up about SCP-XXXX. This is all Level 1 stuff, so feel free to spread this around.
Modes:
SCP-XXXX has multiple modes of presentation. Each mode has its own set of symptoms. These modes of presentation are:
- Irregular activation. It is important to determine if it is deactivation or hyperactivation.
- Deactivation symptoms:
- Altered behavior similar to developmental disorders.
- Difficulty to self-conceptualize. Affects the patient's perception of themselves.
- Diminished higher-consciousness. (not how "awake" they are! Check your textbook!)
- Hyperactivation symptoms:
- Sudden onset of anxiety disorders. Persists past SCP-XXXX presentation.
- Depression. Also persists.
- Reality-bending powers. Yes, really. These folks don't tend to last long - all of them have died from their brain lobes dematerializing. This is a physically dangerous event to be near, so be very cautious when dealing with hyperactivation.
- Lock drift. Associated with out of body experiences, hallucinatory events. Not much to speak about here, symptomatically, it isn't a very serious condition. It is very important that the patient is kept away from reality anchors whenever they have lock drift.
- Neutralization. Permanent condition. Presents as an extreme form of SCP-XXXX deactivation. Pray you don't get it.
If normal diagnostics aren't doing the trick, get in contact with a Level 4 and they'll sort you out. There are tools available for direct detection.
Treatment:
Direct treatment for SCP-XXXX presentation is basically impossible. You have to wait it out. However, you can provide some preventative measures.
For some reason, our cranial lining is what prevents SCP-XXXX presentation from occurring much more often. You've probably seen those SCP-XXXX "sticks" already - those scan for a compromised cranial lining. If you have personnel return negative when jabbed with those, you should isolate them from Hume anomalies.
Reality Anchors:
Reality anchors may cause an SCP-XXXX neutralization. I can't say exactly why this happens, but it does. This might fly in the face of what you've been told about SRAs: that in the short-term, "there is no effects on normal humans." In truth, this is because the cranial lining protects us. As soon as it's compromised, reality anchors can become very dangerous to be around.
Alternative Containment Procedures:
Containment of SCP-XXXX has been a major goal for the Foundation. Traditional containment methods have repeatedly been determined to be both infeasible and unethical. In response, the O5 Council formally opened submission of alternative containment procedures. Due to the nature of SCP-XXXX, it was known that these procedures would effectively describe a procedure to decommission most SCP-XXXX instances. This was deemed acceptable by the O5 Council, and met their definition of containment.
Numerous research groups formed and responded with proposals. Most of these proposals involve some sort of transmutation of SCP-XXXX instances into non-anomalous physical forms. This transmutation process is usually based on an anomalous Hume field structure that attaches to and manipulates an SCP-XXXX instance.
One of these proposals has been approved for testing: the Bohm-Pribram [Interference Neutralization] procedures.
Ethics Committee Ruling:
[REDACTED]
Overview of the Bohm-Pribram Procedures:
[REDACTED]
Ethics Committee Memo:
[REDACTED]
Ethics Committee and O5 Council Decision:
[REDACTED]
01/12/2000: Reclassification of SCP-XXXX is in process.
BY ORDER OF THE ETHICS COMMITEE AND OVERSEER COUNCIL:
THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION IS RESTRICTED.
[LEVEL 5/XXXX] CLEARANCE IS REQUIRED.
Addendum SCP-XXXX.3: Alternative Containment Procedures
Alternative Containment Procedures:
Containment of SCP-XXXX has been a major goal for the Foundation. Traditional containment methods have repeatedly been determined to be both infeasible and unethical. In response, the O5 Council formally opened submission of alternative containment procedures. Due to the nature of SCP-XXXX, it was known that these procedures would effectively describe a procedure to decommission most SCP-XXXX instances. This was deemed acceptable by the O5 Council, and met their definition of containment.
Numerous research groups formed and responded with proposals. Most of these proposals involve some sort of transmutation of SCP-XXXX instances into non-anomalous physical forms. This transmutation process is usually based on an anomalous Hume field structure that attaches to and manipulates an SCP-XXXX instance.
One of these proposals was approved for testing: the Bohm-Pribram [Interference Neutralization] procedures.
Ethics Committee Ruling:
ETHICS COMMITTEE RULING
Following breakthroughs in the understanding of SCP-XXXX, the Ethics Committee convened. The purpose of this meeting was to come to a consensus upon what is acceptable for SCP-XXXX containment.
The following facts regarding SCP-XXXX informed the committee:
- SCP-XXXX has been determined to exist within effectively every human.
- SCP-XXXX is functionally responsible for many components of ordinary human behavior.
- SCP-XXXX is a significant cause of humanity's vulnerability to Hume field effects.
- SCP-XXXX is a genuinely unexplainable, uncontained anomaly.
The following statements were considered true by the committee:
- Public awareness of SCP-XXXX would jeopardize normalcy.
- Casual neutralization of SCP-XXXX would jeopardize normalcy and human functioning.
- Traditional containment of SCP-XXXX is impossible.
After council was given by well-informed researchers within fields related to SCP-XXXX, the Ethics Committee deliberated. Consensus was eventually reached - but the committee had great difficulty in doing so. This has brought upon new measures, which are described in the Ruling section of this document.
Ruling:
By the authority of the Ethics Committee:
- SCP-XXXX is to be considered currently essential for human normalcy and standard functioning. The Foundation is to be explicitly aware of this in any matter where SCP-XXXX is relevant.
- No procedures involving the simple deactivation of SCP-XXXX instances will be approved.
- Corresponding with the last measure, the current SCP-XXXX containment procedures are now null.
- Procedures describing a replacement process might be approved if they fulfill certain requirements. These requirements are listed in the Additional Documentation section of this document.
It is recommended by the Ethics Committee:
- That SCP-XXXX be reclassified to Cernnunos, from Keter. The committee believes that SCP-XXXX should be contained, but the plans for mass neutralization were completely unacceptable. A formal request for reclassification has been sent to the Classification Committee office.
- That the Foundation allocate a significant quantity of resources to an SCP-XXXX replacement program. A formal request has been sent to the O5 Council office.
Additional Documentation:
Replacement:
A replacement process for SCP-XXXX must meet certain requirements before any measure of approval by the Ethics Committee can be considered.
A replacement network instance must:
- Emulate an SCP-XXXX network non-anomalously.
- Not affect normalcy or otherwise modify ordinary human behavior.
The replacement process must:
- Not significantly affect normalcy during the duration of the process. The process should be able to complete without the public noticing.
- Be done through transformative methods. The SCP-XXXX instance can not be copied and then neutralized.
- Ensure that SCP-XXXX no longer autonomously forms in humans.
The Ethics Committee chose these requirements with the understanding that they are very difficult to fulfill. If replacement of SCP-XXXX in this fashion is determined to be impossible, the Ethics Committee and O5 Council will convene and decide whether or not SCP-XXXX containment efforts should be entirely abandoned.
Overview of the Bohm-Pribram Procedures:
SCP-XXXX Containment Proposal
[Note] This is a redacted version of the Interface Neutralization proposal. The full expansion is available, please talk to Dr. Katherine Pribram to receive a copy. Make sure you have the right clearance before asking me!
Overview:
Our group is proposing a novel approach for SCP-XXXX containment. This approach involves an anomalous process that replaces an existing SCP-XXXX network with a holonomic network. We call this process Interface Neutralization. Interface Neutralization is the primary component of our proposal.
During Interface Neutralization, the host SCP-XXXX process is destructively converted into a holonomic network. This "holonomic" network is a holographic storage network, formed using entirely non-anomalous quantum effects between the brain's cells. The replacement network should be completely comparable in performance to an SCP-XXXX network.
The object responsible for the conversion process is a purpose-designed Hume field anomaly. Currently, our anomalies target a single individual. However, we can easily modify the anomaly into infectiously spreading between humans, eventually converting all SCP-XXXX instances into holonomic networks.
Procedures, Technical Description:
[DATA EXPUNGED]
D-Class Testing:
[DATA EXPUNGED]
Conclusion:
We believe this set of procedures fulfills the requirements posed by the O5 Council and the Ethics Committee. We are extremely confident in the safety and performance of our network architecture.
Ethics Committee Memo:
ETHICS COMMITTEE MEMO
After careful consideration and examination of the provided technical information, we have determined that your proposed process technically meets our requirements for an SCP-XXXX replacement process. However, it is not approved for implementation. The Ethics Committee has some concerns:
- What are the long-term effects of this network? Are they any different?
- Recent discoveries have cast into question some understanding of SCP-XXXX - are you sure that your holonomic network constitutes an actual transference of the conscious self? Are you accidentally replacing individuals with p-zombies?
- How are you so confident in the capability and safety of your team's replacement network? Your team did note specific benefits, showed results of testing, etc. However, to us, none of this proved beyond a reasonable doubt the true characteristics of your network. To be blunt, the included tests done with D-Class did not fill this committee with confidence.
- Finally, what happens if it goes wrong? What if a reality-bender mutates a strain of your anomaly? What if there is a malfunction? Could a dysfunctional instance of this anomaly constitute a significant risk to humanity?
The committee understands that it's probably not easy to answer these questions. The Ethics Committee is willing to approve of any tests that your team might need. Of course, you will also need approval from the O5 Council. The Ethics Committee will be sending a liaison to oversee these tests, if carried out.
Please send us a response once you have the necessary information. If your response is deemed acceptable, we will approve implementation of these procedures.
PS: The Foundation is not for those who ravenously seek prestige, doctor. We're aware you went directly to the O5 Council for implementation approval, in an attempt to bypass the Ethics Committee. We were immediately informed. Protocol should dictate a severe reprimand - but your proposal is the only one to even come close to fulfilling our requirements. It is for humanity's sake that we overlook this. Do not disappoint us.
Ethics Committee and O5 Council Decision:
JOINT DECISION
ETHICS COMMITTEE | OVERSEER COUNCIL
ORIGIN:
The Ethics Committee and the Overseer Council was convened due to Incident-XXXX-064. This incident involved the mitigation of a potential LK-Class "End of Human Consciousness" scenario.
DECISION:
The Ethics Committee and the Overseer Council have decided that these directives are to be enforced:
- All existing replacement procedures for SCP-XXXX are now nulled.
- Research into SCP-XXXX neutralization procedures is now prohibited.
- Research into SCP-XXXX replacement procedures is now prohibited.
- Efforts to neutralize or decomission SCP-XXXX instances are to be abandoned.
- All primary containment efforts for SCP-XXXX are to be abandoned.
- Research into the phenomena of human consciousness (SCP-XXXX) is now restricted.
01/12/2000: Reclassification of SCP-XXXX to Ticonderoga is in process.
