Post
by Professor Fenway » Tue Nov 18, 2014 11:09 pm
I think some lore bit or another a while ago established that psionic ability was due, in part, to specific patterns of the nervous system and the body that resonate with subspace, allowing for the abilities it contains due to being able to sense/feel energy in subspace due to these patterns. But it wasn't specifically tied to a specific gene, because DNA from all over seemed to contribute to the pattern's formation, and the pattern's development was even influenced and hindered/enhanced by the way one develops (Epigenetics- look it up). This makes it much more a roll of the genetic dice because the pattern could be developed by any part of the genome.
This solves several problems; first, it establishes why some psionics are more powerful than others or have different abilities; it depends on the extent and resonance of the developed pattern. Second, it establishes why they are so rare, because this pattern has to be rather specific (in a certain subspace frequency) for the person to be able to sense the psionic energy. And even then, without technology, its useless. And without a psionic, the technology is useless. Think of an antenna tuned to the right frequency/wavelength. It can sense (telepathy or true empathy) but it can't send signals of its own apart from normal static that all living beings send out. But by adding to the antenna various components, in this case psionic amplifiers, we can make our own signals and do things. Suddenly telekinesis, pyrokinesis, it all becomes possible.
But without the psionic, the technology cannot do anything useful. You can activate it and it might do something, but you have no control over what it does or where it goes, or if it even works. It might kill you, even. A psionic is hardly useful without technology, but technology is useless without the psionic.
Now, over time, dedicated research may find what causes the psionic pattern to form in the first place, and maybe even a few genetic markers. Maybe you need to expose the subject to Zero-delta-beta radiation less than 30 seconds after conception, for example. Maybe he needs to be fed unknown substance 3645 for three years. Maybe people with schizophrenia are more likely to be psionically attuned. And by learning, you can increase psionic rates. Maybe you can learn how to artificially replicate the patterns in machines or in non-psionic organisms, allowing for more ability beyond simple telepathy and true empathy (the technology I spoke of).
And a purely psionic race becomes simpler; they evolved to fit the psionic pattern very specifically. They are designed to achieve said pattern, and will do so 99% of the time regardless of upbringing or nutrition or epigenetics.
And an extra bit: The Enerjak point. What is this? This happens when a psionic becomes too attuned to the subspace frequency. Information overload, corruption, and general insanity result from this because the subject, more likely than not, cannot handle the full extent of the resonance. Nothing will ever reach this point naturally because it requires an exceptionally precise pattern. You're only going to reach it if you're trying to.
TL;DR
-Psionic ability is caused by very specific neural patterns that resonate in subspace. Pattern development depends on genome to an extent and the individual's development through life.
-Psionic power depends on how 'attuned' one is to the resonance frequency in subspace. But if you are too attuned, Enerjak point.
-Basic psionic ability is purely sensing, such as with empathy and telepathy. Further ability can only be accomplished through psionic technology. And the tech's power depends on how attuned it is, but this time, there is no Enerjak point.
-Psionic technology is practically useless without a psionic to guide it, with exceptions. If you can artificially replicate the pattern (VERY DIFFICULT) you can make a nonliving (but much less powerful) psionic device.
-Psionic races evolved to be specifically attuned psionically, achieving near 100% rates, while other species are less than 1%.
