Item #: SCP-061
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: The computers hosting SCP-061 are to be kept under militarized containment lockdown at Sector-7. Armed guards are to remain present outside containment to confirm the identities of those attempting to log in to LAN-061 (Local Area Network hosting SCP-061). These armed guards are selected for their complete lack of hearing.
LAN-061 is contained within a single research lab surrounded with noise-canceling vacuum insulation. Servers comprising LAN-061 are lined with PE-4 explosive which will be detonated remotely should a user attempting to access LAN-061 fail three consecutive times to log in, or if LAN-061 detects the existence of a WAN, such as the Internet or program code resembling [DATA EXPUNGED]. SCP-061 is to have no contact with artificial intelligences or any other similar program or algorithm.
Description: SCP-061 is an acoustic computer program being developed by SCP researchers with the intent of producing successful countermeasures to similar programs being developed by governments and individuals around the world. Inspired by research on [DATA EXPUNGED], SCP Command saw both the potential and harm in the ability to control the brain functions of other human beings. Laymen understand that music can elicit certain emotions and memories or various sounds can elicit fear and excitement by simply being heard. Governments around the world have been attempting to expand on that premise for decades; SCP Research is the first to elicit responses on higher mental activities.
Parts of the brain affected by SCP-061 differ from those stimulated by [DATA EXPUNGED] or by subliminal messaging. Instead of acting on parts of the brain that are thought to be in control of the subconscious, acoustic frequencies produced by SCP-061 intercept conscious thoughts as they are produced and replace them. Instead of a suggestion, the human hearing center bisects the conscious thinking mind of the frontal lobe with the motor control cortical homunculus of the brain.
A baseline rhythm "convinces" the rest of the brain that the conscious mind is "asleep" and effectively stops conscious thought from continuing to the rest of the brain. In return, the frontal lobe experiences a "pause" that resembles the psychological effects of anesthesia. Acoustic codes developed by SCP-061 are interpreted by motor centers in the brain as conscious instructions and the subject typically acts accordingly. (See Addendum-01)
Subjects will normally have a "blank" facial expression while under the influence of SCP-061. They are not responsive to attempts at conversation and express no desires, such as hunger or interest in sexual advances. Though all commands are followed without question, the effects of the auditory control cease once the subject is no longer able to hear the program. Most test subjects report being unable to remember the actions they performed while under control, but a few have experienced the effect of "watching helplessly" as their body acted against their will.
The intent of such research is to discover ways to counteract the affects of auditory mind control; however, only two methods of countermeasures have proven successful as of yet. One, the subject's hearing is impaired so that the individual can no longer hear the program, either by covering the ear or deafening the subject. Two, the program itself sends a coded instruction to the hearing center of the brain, permanently shutting it down. Though the ear continues to hear, there has been no progress in finding the proper code to "reboot" the hearing center of the brain.
Addendum-01: All subjects are placed under auditory control, issued a coded auditory command and then monitored.
- Subject— 4402F
- Command: [Sleep]
- Response: Subject curled up into a fetal position on the floor and her brain began emitting alpha waves associated with sleep. Her eyes remained wide open in the typical "blank/empty" expression associated with controlled subjects, but her eyes twitched rapidly in ways associated with REM sleep.
- Subject— 4427M
- Command: [Run on treadmill]
- Response: Subject mounted treadmill and then proceeded to run. Subject did not turn on the treadmill resulting in the subject impacting the control platform. Subject repeated this until the [Stop] command was issued. Note: more detailed commands are advised for task oriented commands.
- Subject— 4427M
- Command: [Turn treadmill on; Run on treadmill]
- Response: Subjected turned on tread mill to the maximum speed, mounted and attempted to run before being ejected off the conveyor belt. Subject repeatedly attempted to turn on the treadmill to a random speed and run on it with various outcomes. Note: more detailed commands are advised for task oriented commands.
- Subject— 4427M
- Command: [Turn on treadmill to jogging speed; Jog on treadmill]
- Response: Subject successfully jogged on treadmill till [Stop] command was issued, which resulted in subject being ejected off the conveyor belt. Note: Subjects should be in a safe neutral position before [Stop] commands are issued.
