#behavioural engineering

The idea of this psychological experiment has really fascinated me for a very long time.  Basically, MKUltra was a covert US government operation into mind control through the CIA's scientific intelligence division, beginning in the early 1950's.  They called it "behavioural engineering of humans".  

It involved manipulating people's mental states and altering brain functions through the use of drugs such as LSD, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as various forms of torture.  Many of the subjects have sustained long-term psychological damage, with some even committing suicide because of the ordeal.