Recent technological advances have raised hopes addiction could one day be treatable using sophisticated mechanical devices.

Dubbed “deep brain-machine interfaces,” the devices are implanted inside the brain, capable of decoding mental activity—and more surprisingly, altering it.

The technique differs from conventional brain-machine interfaces, which focus on decoding signals from the cerebral cortex—the brain’s outer layer, according to a paper published in Translational Psychiatry.

By implanting the devices in parts of the brain associated with addiction, scientists may be able to suppress binging, craving, and withdrawal behaviors more effectively than existing pharmaceutical and behavioral treatments.