Methods and instruments that allow connectivity to the nervous system and may include computers, electrodes, or prosthetics that provide two functions: 1) gathering transmissions from the brain and converting transmission to commands, and 2) providing manipulation of brain waves through various stimuli which can be electrical or optical (Muller and Rotter, 2017).

Neurovulnerability (or neurobiological vulnerability) is defined in NCBI-indexed literature as the heightened susceptibility of individuals or specific neural populations to stress, disease, or damage, often arising from a complex interplay of genetic, molecular, and environmental factors.

(National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2026). Neurovulnerability and neurobiological susceptibility in neurological research. Content summarized with the assistance of artificial intelligence based on information extracted from resources indexed by the National Center for Biotechnology Information).

TBD

Predictive Forecasting or Predictive Analytics forecasting future events based on what happened in the past. This does not require artificial intelligence or machine learning per Abadicio, M. (2019, March 27). (Predictive analytics in the military – Current applications. Emerj Artificial Intelligence Research. https://emerj.com).

TBD

Psychological Actions (PSYACTs) “Is the occurrence of something that affects the Target Audience. The PSYACT and the responsive behavior create the desired psychological reaction of a Target Audience,” (Flynn and Cutler, 2022, Introduction to 5GW: The citizen's guide to fifth generation warfare. Boone Cutler Media Enterprise, LLC).

“Are operations designed to convey selective information and indicators to audiences to influence their emotion, motives, and objective reasoning in order to affect the behavior of governments, organizations, groups, and individuals,” (Flynn and Cutler, 2022).

(Flynn, M. (Ret.), & Cutler, B. (2022). Introduction to 5GW: The citizen's guide to fifth generation warfare. Boone Cutler Media Enterprise, LLC).

The United States Office of Naval Research described energy weapons with ultra-short pulse laser and atmospheric characterization, specifically stating, “

Directed energy weapons (DEWs) are defined as electromagnetic systems capable of converting chemical or electrical energy to radiated energy and focusing it on a target, resulting in physical damage that degrades, neutralizes, defeats or destroys an adversarial capability. Navy DEWs include systems that use high-energy lasers (HEL) that emit photons and high-power microwaves (HPM) that release radiofrequency waves,” (United States Navy Office of Naval Research, 2026).

Pulse weapons, often classified under Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) or Non-Lethal Weapons (NLW), are defined in the context of civilian use as devices that emit focused electromagnetic, radiofrequency, or microwave energy to disrupt, incapacitate, or cause pain to human targets without causing immediate, permanent injury. These technologies are increasingly considered for crowd control, perimeter defense. (AI, Library of Congress, 2026).

Core Types and Definitions

• Active Denial System (ADS): A "less-lethal" directed-energy weapon that emits a 95 GHz millimeter-wave beam, which causes a sensation of intense, unbearable heat by heating the water in a target's skin. It is designed to repel individuals or disperse crowds from a distance.

• High-Power Microwave (HPM) / Pulsed Energy Projectiles (PEP): Devices that use pulsed, invisible laser energy to create plasma on a target's surface, causing a pressure wave that results in temporary paralysis, intense pain, and involuntary muscle contractions.

• Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs/Tasers): While often considered distinct from directed energy weapons, they fall under the "pulse" umbrella, using electrical pulses to disrupt voluntary muscle control at close range

TBD

TBD

Exposure to extreme and horrific events that include accidents, crime, and natural disaster and may be accompanied by emotional reactions including 1) denial, 2) flashbacks, 3) physical symptoms, 4) shock, 5) strained relationships, and 6) unpredictable emotions (American Psychological Association [APA], 2025), while the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, (5th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 2022) describes it as actual or perceived threat of injury, sexual violence, or death, including being victimized or witnessing an event and may often be accompanied by helplessness, loss of control, and shock.