[rakejake]

I do not recall the exact details but I remember that some of the focused individuals were kept in a grid or matrix of some sort. The aim of these grids were to translate the spider-talk and achieve some form of conversation with the spiders on the planet. It is also mentioned that the focused individuals have their own invented language with which they communicate to other focused individuals, which is faster and more efficient than human languages.

I may be misremembering certain details, but the similarity to neural networks and their use in machine translation was quite apparent.

[NoMoreNicksLeft]

The zipheads were crippled with a weaponized virus that turned them all into autistic savants. The virus was somewhat magnetic, and using MRI like technologies, they could target specific parts of the brain to be affected to lesser or greater degrees. It's been awhile since I've re-read it, but "focused" was the propaganda label for it from the monstrous tyrannical regime that used it to turn people into zombies, no?

[db48x]

Not zombies, but loving slaves. People able to apply all of their creativity and problem–solving skills to any task given to them, but without much capacity for reflection or any kind of personal ambitions or desires.

[lll-o-lll]

Or ability to remember to feed, clean, or toilet themselves.

It’s that hyper-focus that I suspect many of us have experienced, but without agency and permanent. Worse than slavery.

[db48x]

Lack of agency is right. No ability to request medical aid even when suffering crippling pain from a burst appendix.

[rakejake]

Yes, they could target specific portions of the brain. Have to re-read the book!