Severance: What biochemical method did Lumon use to sever its employees? Speculations explored 

Severance on Apple TV+ has grabbed people's attention with its creepy idea of employees having their brains "cut off" from their work life. The show is about a company called Lumon Industries that does weird things to its employees. They put a chip in their brains to split their memories and have two separate selves: one for work and one for home. The chip is called the "severance chip."

When employees go to work, they become "innies." The innie only knows about the workplace. They don't remember their life outside work. When they leave work, they become an "outie." The outie doesn't remember anything about work and lives their personal life. This switch happens because of sensors at the door of their workplace or through the Overtime Contingency Protocol.

This messes with people's heads a lot. It's not just a cool sci-fi concept; it's also about how it affects people in their work and home lives. The show explores why the company would even want to do this and what happens to people who go through it. Severance makes you think about what it means to be you.

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What is the science that Lumon Industries uses to split workers' minds on Severance?

The process of severance includes a surgical operation where a doctor (in this case, Asal Reghabi) places a special chip in an employee's brain. This "severance chip" divides the person's mind, creating two separate personas: the "innie" and the "outie". The process separates the brain's vibrations into four chambers, which might reflect the Eagan ethos of Four Tempers.

According to some fan theories on Reddit, this process could involve disrupting the flow of sensory inputs and memory formation within brain structures like the amygdala and hippocampus.

After waking up in the elevator as they go to work, the "innie" doesn't remember their past or who they are. This means the "outie" is in charge of all decisions while they use their body, and the company, Lumon, is responsible for the "innie" during work hours. The switch between these personas is based on where they are.

When an "innie" enters the "severed floor" at Lumon, they are in control. When the person leaves this area, the "outie" takes over. This transition is like a rule of space: the "innie" is active at work, and the "outie" is in charge outside work.

So, the employee's mind switches personas as they move through specific spaces, with each one being responsible for different parts of their life.

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Theories on Lumon's true motives on Severance

The main question the series leaves hanging is what Lumon and the Eagan family aim to get from creating this. It's theorized that Lumon might be working on an AI version of Kier Eagan, and severed employees would be perfect for keeping that secret. Another thought is that Macrodata Refinement (MDR) could be about improving feelings, memories, and personalities.

The show has a scene where an interviewer expresses their discomfort with this unnatural process, showing how it affects people's opinions of employees like Dylan when he secures another job and even bonds pretty well with the interviewer. This highlights the deep control Lumon has over their work (as Innies) and personal lives (as Outies).

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Severance is available for viewing on Apple TV+.