Brain Scan Experiment to Read Your Mind
Article
This article discusses studies done with fMRI machines to create a map of neural activity to expose thoughts. In one study, test subjects were placed in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner, and asked to decide whether they would add or subtract a set of numbers. To see what was happening while the volunteers made their decisions, the research team watched oxygen levels and changes in metabolism and fed this data into a computer program to distinguish patterns of activity associated with subtraction and a thought associated with addition. The computer correctly determined what the volunteer was planning to do 75% of the time. These studies will have an impact on research on communication between brains and computers.
Although the results of the experiment weren't 100% successful, I still think that this research is interesting. One of the most mysterious aspects of human physiology is the link between emotions or thought and actions. A lot of research is being conducted to find out more about how the brain works, and within the next decade or so, I suspect that numerous advances in this field will be made. If a computer truly can read a thought, this would not only help improve prosthetic technology, but it could also aid in crime investigations, and that could change the whole justice system. Electronic implants to control movement are gaining success, but the area of thoughts and emotions is still a mystery.
This article discusses studies done with fMRI machines to create a map of neural activity to expose thoughts. In one study, test subjects were placed in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner, and asked to decide whether they would add or subtract a set of numbers. To see what was happening while the volunteers made their decisions, the research team watched oxygen levels and changes in metabolism and fed this data into a computer program to distinguish patterns of activity associated with subtraction and a thought associated with addition. The computer correctly determined what the volunteer was planning to do 75% of the time. These studies will have an impact on research on communication between brains and computers.
Although the results of the experiment weren't 100% successful, I still think that this research is interesting. One of the most mysterious aspects of human physiology is the link between emotions or thought and actions. A lot of research is being conducted to find out more about how the brain works, and within the next decade or so, I suspect that numerous advances in this field will be made. If a computer truly can read a thought, this would not only help improve prosthetic technology, but it could also aid in crime investigations, and that could change the whole justice system. Electronic implants to control movement are gaining success, but the area of thoughts and emotions is still a mystery.
posted by Unknown at 6:19 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home