In the body there are many control systems. The one's most people think about are the ones they can control, and see an effect. Such as the nerves. You think and wow your arm moves. You cut yourself and ouch you feel pain. But that's just one type of control. There's a whole system of chemical messangers in your body that can have by physiological and emotional effects. They are called hormones. And as with most systems in the body they are at least partially under the control of the brain, well some of them. Others function like the autonomic nerve system, just do their thing as they need to.

Unlike some aspects of these pages the ideas listed here are often quite complex to adapt to role-playing situations. Advanced players may be able to use these effects fairly and accurately, but it might be wisest to level emotion altering effects to NPC's.

Neurochemical Induction: Nausea and Vomitting
Most players are used to seeing the adrenal boosters in the cybernetics listing, and have some idea what they do. Of course the boost to reflexes is just one aspect of what adrenalin, or more properly epinephrine can do. In fact the cybernetic system as described is way to limited an application. Adrenalin is used to prepare the body for life or death situations, it increases blood and oxygen flow to the brain and muscles, it increases sensory accuity, reflexes, and strength, and reduces the effects of pain and shock at least short term. As a result it should actually increase perception, reflexes and body. But it does so at a cost, one not covered under Cyberpunk's rules. The blood is redirected from the internal organs and as a result can trigger vomitting to clear stomach contents. This is mor elikely in extreme doses and can lead to fear and psychological effects.

Neurochemical Induction: Pathological Fear
This is another possible affect of adrenalin overdose. A simple subliminal message and a healthy dose of adrenalin can have a punk climbing the walls, terrified but not sure what of. For all intents and purposes cool checks are all going to fail, though a modifier may be more fair to players. Though if this punk get's cornered watch out.

Neurochemical Induction: Sleep
There's another pair of hormones in the body that play a role in sleeping. Melatonin and seratonin. By stimulating the brain and affecting the secretion of these hormones it is possible to make a target drowsy or fall asleep outright. I'd recommend a skill check like in combat against the program using the target's willpower/coolness.

Neurochemical Induction: Depression
Serotonin also affects the target's emotional states, namely their ability to be cheerful. Too much seratonin can result in increasing levels of depression. This is of course a very hard affect to inflict on players so I'd recommend its use on NPC's.

Neurochemical Induction: Rage
Hormones play a role in almost all the emotional states, from fear and arousal to outright anger and rage. While in this case the hormones may not directly trigger the emotion they do play a role in preparing thebody to act in accordance with that emotion, and that can set up a feedback loop.

Pathophysiological Alterations: Urinate
Unknown to most people there a series of hormones involved with maintaining the body's salt to water ratio. Interrupt this hormones and you can do some weird things. In this case by tricking the body into thinking it has far too much water, much like when drinking alcohol, you can send an enemy scurrying for the toilet. If this effect lasts too long the target can suffer dehydration and all the effects associated with it.

Pathophysiological Alterations: Thirst
Normally hormones react to changes in the salt to water ratio, if salt drops we urinate, if water drops or salt rises we get thristy. This triggers an thirst reaction that has nothing to do with biochemical levels. The target just needs to drink, and eventually suffers the effects of hyponatremia and over hydration. Muscle spasms, stomach aches that kinda thing.

Pathophysiological Alterations: False Pregnancy
Now admittedly this is gender specific but hormones play a wide range of roles involved with pregnancy. This ICE triggers those effects by controlling the neurological system that regulates hormones. Admittedly there's really nothing in cyberpunk to realisticly portray this, but it can be used for effect.

Pathophysiological Alterations: False PMS
Similar to pregnancy the preparation systems are largely controlled by hormones. Again this can really only be used for effect. I've included these two mostly to give you ideas.

Reformatted December 16th, 2000