Japanese scientists have developed a new method for identifying Mad Cow disease by measuring the brain waves produced in response to audio stimuli. The cows developed the typical symptoms of Mad Cow (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) 24 months after being infected, however the researchers found that the cows had a delayed reaction to sound just 22 months after infection. In all 11 cows the response to audio stimuli was a few tenths of a millisecond slower than in healthy cows.

Pink Tentacle with the report:

The researchers believe the acoustic nerves responsible for transmitting sound impulses to the brain became damaged as the disease progressed, resulting in a delayed response time. By using a device that measures this delay, ranchers can identify mad cows in their herds, the researchers suggest.

While the newly developed method is still less accurate than conventional lab testing of brain samples taken from carcasses, it does make it easier to detect possible infection at an early stage, before outward signs of the disease appear.

The researchers, who plan to study the data further and improve the accuracy of the test, eventually hope to develop a portable version of the device.

Too bad they didn’t patent this six or so months ago when Korea’s mad cow mania was hitting full gear. Somebody would have made a killing selling these things door to door. Unfortunately, as the recent U.S. beef sales during Chusok indicate, Korea can’t stuff enough of the stuff into their collective gullets.

Photo courtesy Edgar.