Mind meld
From Hidden Frontier
The Vulcan mind meld is a form of touch telepathy. The mind meld is a psionic technique normally employed only by Vulcans. It is a deeply personal thing, part of Vulcans' private life, and not normally used on aliens. Melding is not strictly telepathy; those in a meld share consciousness in a kind of gestalt.
Physical contact is usually necessary. In extreme circumstances however, Vulcans have been able to conduct a mind meld over short distances. For example, Commander Spock of the USS Enterprise did so twice to control guards outside of a detention cell, and once to establish contact with a Horta. Also, Lieutenant Tuvok of the USS Voyager was able to speak telepathically with a race of non-touch telepaths, though he did have to touch one in order to do a full mind meld.
The initiator places the tips of his fingers at key locations on the head of the other participant. This allows him to place pressure on key nerves and blood vessels to facilitate the link. If successful, the link results in a merging of both minds, essentially creating a single consciousness in two bodies. Only the subject in physical contact with the initiator participates in the meld; others in the vicinity are not affected.
Melding carries some risk. It can be physically debilitating for both parties. The pressure changes can potentially aggravate existing conditions. The melding results in some loss of identity, and can be difficult to break, especially when the subject's mind is powerful or dynamic. Aftereffects can be treated with the drug lexorin.
At the conclusion of the meld, each mind retains some knowledge of the other.
It is possible to force a mind meld on an unwilling subject, but most Vulcans are loath to do so, unless under the most dire circumstances. An exception may be the Vulcans of the Mirror Universe, whose ethical constraints, shaped by the savagery of their environment, are doubtless far different.
During the 22nd century, mind melding was believed to be an ability only a minority of Vulcans are born to. Due to the apparent intimacy of melding, Vulcans during this era considered the practice defiant to the ancestral teachings of their society. As a result, other Vulcans considered those who were natural ‘melders’ outcasts.
An improperly trained melder who initiates a mind meld can transmit a Vulcan disease known as Pa'nar Syndrome. If left untreated, the disease is fatal. Vulcan medicine of the mid-22nd century believed that there was no cure; however, the disease was known in Surak's time, as was its cure: a corrective meld performed by an experienced melder. It is likely that the ignorance of this cure was due to the widespread prejudice against melders, a prejudice that was not shared by the Syrrannite group.
