The MK Ultra project, often oversimplified in pop culture, actually delves into numerous complex directions, subprojects, and affiliated aspects making it hard to fully grasp its wide scope. The project spanned about a decade but had many predecessors, successors, and parallel developments involving various intelligence agencies besides the CIA. Notably, the Department of Defense also had similar undisclosed projects, highlighting the vast and interconnected nature of MK Ultra, which extends beyond a mere CIA initiative.