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{{first pic|ThirdInMindProbe.jpg|The [[Third Doctor]] under a [[human]] mind probe ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space]]'')}}
{{first pic|ThirdInMindProbe.jpg|The [[Third Doctor]] under a [[human]] mind probe ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space]]'')}}
A '''mind probe''' was a device which allowed an operator to extract information from a subject's [[mind]] through the use of some kind of projected energy.
{{dab page|Probe (disambiguation)}}
A '''mind probe''' was a device which allowed an operator to extract information from a subject's [[mind]] through the use of some kind of projected energy. Although many civilisations used mind probes, they were dangerous to the subject, and sometimes unreliable.


Subjects were said to be at risk of brain damage if they were exposed to these devices for either long periods or high power outputs. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Engines of War (novel)|Engines of War]]'')
== Nature ==
Subjects were said to be at risk of [[brain damage]] if they were exposed to these devices for either long periods or high power outputs. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Engines of War (novel)|Engines of War]]'') [[Jack Harkness]] once claimed that mind probes had "a 100% success rate, counting only the survivors". ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Undertaker's Gift (novel)|The Undertaker's Gift]]'')


The [[Third Doctor]] once told [[Jo Grant|Jo]] that he had found a way to defeat mind probes, and quipped that he'd once destroyed a government's entire supply of probes. (His method was to tell the truth in obscure wording to make it seem like he was talking gibberish)  Later, when hooked up to an [[Earth Security]] mind probe, he demonstrated that his brain could destroy their versions as well (especially if the power was up too high). ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space]]'')
The [[Third Doctor]] once told [[Jo Grant]] that he had found a way to defeat mind probes, and quipped that he'd once destroyed a government's entire supply of probes. His method was to tell the truth in obscure wording to make it seem like he was talking gibberish. ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space (TV story)|Frontier in Space]]'')


A mind probe of [[Gallifrey]]an design was going to be used on [[Jerricho|the Castellan]] to discover the truth about the [[Black Scrolls of Rassilon]], but he was shot before they could use it on him. Nevertheless, he exhibited great fear of the mind probe, which perhaps hinted at its power against the [[Time Lord]] brain. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')
== History ==
=== Gallifreyan mind probes ===
A mind probe of [[Gallifrey]]an design was going to be used on [[Jerricho|the Castellan]] to discover the truth about the [[Black Scrolls of Rassilon]], but he was shot before they could use it on him. Nevertheless, he exhibited great fear of the mind probe, hinting at its power against the [[Time Lord]] brain. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'')


[[The Eleven]] used a mind probe on [[Coordinator]] [[Farina]] in order to extract the access codes he needed to enter the [[Omega Vault]]. In doing so, he "burned out" her mind. ([[AUDIO]]:'' [[The Eleven (audio story)|The Eleven]]'')
[[The Eleven]] used a mind probe on [[Coordinator]] [[Farina]] in order to extract the access codes he needed to enter the [[Omega Vault]]. In doing so, he "burned out" her mind. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Eleven (audio story)|The Eleven]]'')


[[Torchwood Three]] also had a mind probe. They used it on [[Beth Halloran]] when they were trying to discover whether she had attacked the burglars who broke into her house. [[Ianto]] remarked that the last alien they used it on exploded. ([[TV]]: ''[[Sleeper (TV story)|Sleeper]]'')
[[War in Heaven|War]] [[Interrogator]] [[Dionus]] took an "interrogation device" with him when he left [[the Homeworld]]'s service, bringing it to [[Gulliver's Rest]] where he found refuge. He brought it out of storage to use it on an unconscious "[[Nari]]", on a low setting. This allowed him to realise that her "Nari" persona was not just an act as he had believed, but a fully-fledged alternative personality that the Homeworlder had constructed for herself to evade deduction. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Me & My Ghost (audio story)|Me & My Ghost]]'')


[[Dalek X]] used a mind probe to torture and interrogate the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Prisoner of the Daleks (novel)|Prisoner of the Daleks]]'')
During the [[Last Great Time War]], two members of the [[High Council]] of the [[Time Lord]]s on [[Gallifrey]], [[Karlax]] and the [[Castellan (Engines of War)|Castellan]], administered the probe to [[Cinder]]. Although [[human]], she managed to survive it. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Engines of War (novel)|Engines of War]]'')
 
=== Human mind probes ===
[[Torchwood Three]] had access to a mind probe. They used it on [[Beth Halloran]] when they were trying to discover whether she had attacked the burglars who broke into her house. [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] remarked that the last alien they used it on had exploded. ([[TV]]: ''[[Sleeper (TV story)|Sleeper]]'')
 
General [[Nikolai Hermack]] considered using a mind probe on [[Milo Clancey]] to see if Clancey was telling the truth about being robbed by space pirates. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Space Pirates (TV story)|The Space Pirates]]'')
 
[[Earth Security]] also employed mind probes around the time of [[Operation Divide and Conquer|the Daleks' attempt to stir up hostilities]] between the [[Earth Empire]] and the [[Draconian Empire]]. The [[Third Doctor]] as subjected to it while believed to be a Draconian spy. ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space (TV story)|Frontier in Space]]'')


[[Jack Harkness]] claimed that it had a 100% success rate, counting only the survivors. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[The Undertaker's Gift]]'')
=== Dalek mind probes ===
[[Dalek X]] used a mind probe to torture and interrogate the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Prisoner of the Daleks (novel)|Prisoner of the Daleks]]'')-


The [[Dalek]]s used mind probes to extract the blue prints for the [[persuasion machine]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Daleks Among Us]]'')
The [[Dalek]]s used mind probes to extract the blue prints for the [[persuasion machine]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Daleks Among Us (audio story)|Daleks Among Us]]'')
 
=== Other mind probes ===
The [[Third Doctor]] used his technique to blewour [[Draconian]] and mind probes as well as the [[Earth Security]]'s. ([[TV]]: ''[[Frontier in Space (TV story)|Frontier in Space]]'')


During the [[Last Great Time War]], two members of the [[High Council]] of the [[Time Lord]]s on [[Gallifrey]], [[Karlax]] and the [[Castellan (Engines of War)|Castellan]], administered the probe to [[Cinder]]. Although [[human]], she managed to survive it. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Engines of War (novel)|Engines of War]]'')
[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]
[[Category:Gallifreyan technology]]
[[Category:Human technology]]
[[Category:Human technology]]

Latest revision as of 15:29, 13 February 2022

The Third Doctor under a human mind probe (TV: Frontier in Space)
You may wish to consult Probe (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

A mind probe was a device which allowed an operator to extract information from a subject's mind through the use of some kind of projected energy. Although many civilisations used mind probes, they were dangerous to the subject, and sometimes unreliable.

Nature[[edit] | [edit source]]

Subjects were said to be at risk of brain damage if they were exposed to these devices for either long periods or high power outputs. (PROSE: Engines of War) Jack Harkness once claimed that mind probes had "a 100% success rate, counting only the survivors". (PROSE: The Undertaker's Gift)

The Third Doctor once told Jo Grant that he had found a way to defeat mind probes, and quipped that he'd once destroyed a government's entire supply of probes. His method was to tell the truth in obscure wording to make it seem like he was talking gibberish. (TV: Frontier in Space)

History[[edit] | [edit source]]

Gallifreyan mind probes[[edit] | [edit source]]

A mind probe of Gallifreyan design was going to be used on the Castellan to discover the truth about the Black Scrolls of Rassilon, but he was shot before they could use it on him. Nevertheless, he exhibited great fear of the mind probe, hinting at its power against the Time Lord brain. (TV: The Five Doctors)

The Eleven used a mind probe on Coordinator Farina in order to extract the access codes he needed to enter the Omega Vault. In doing so, he "burned out" her mind. (AUDIO: The Eleven)

War Interrogator Dionus took an "interrogation device" with him when he left the Homeworld's service, bringing it to Gulliver's Rest where he found refuge. He brought it out of storage to use it on an unconscious "Nari", on a low setting. This allowed him to realise that her "Nari" persona was not just an act as he had believed, but a fully-fledged alternative personality that the Homeworlder had constructed for herself to evade deduction. (AUDIO: Me & My Ghost)

During the Last Great Time War, two members of the High Council of the Time Lords on Gallifrey, Karlax and the Castellan, administered the probe to Cinder. Although human, she managed to survive it. (PROSE: Engines of War)

Human mind probes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Torchwood Three had access to a mind probe. They used it on Beth Halloran when they were trying to discover whether she had attacked the burglars who broke into her house. Ianto remarked that the last alien they used it on had exploded. (TV: Sleeper)

General Nikolai Hermack considered using a mind probe on Milo Clancey to see if Clancey was telling the truth about being robbed by space pirates. (TV: The Space Pirates)

Earth Security also employed mind probes around the time of the Daleks' attempt to stir up hostilities between the Earth Empire and the Draconian Empire. The Third Doctor as subjected to it while believed to be a Draconian spy. (TV: Frontier in Space)

Dalek mind probes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Dalek X used a mind probe to torture and interrogate the Tenth Doctor. (PROSE: Prisoner of the Daleks)-

The Daleks used mind probes to extract the blue prints for the persuasion machine. (AUDIO: Daleks Among Us)

Other mind probes[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Third Doctor used his technique to blewour Draconian and mind probes as well as the Earth Security's. (TV: Frontier in Space)