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Mind Job: Japanese researchers translate brain patterns into accurate images
Science fiction movies have long been obsessed with the as yet unattained ability to project the thoughts of humans (dreams, intentions, etc.) onto a video screen. Now a group of Japanese researchers at the ATR Computational Neuroscience Lab in Kyoto have brought us a lot closer to making that technology real.
Using a magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanner to detail brain activity patterns in the visual cortexes of volunteers, the scientists were able to reconstruct images from the brain patterns of the subjects. In an official statement, the research group said, "[This] was the first time in the world that it was possible to visualize what people see directly from the brain activity." According to the group, in the not too distant future this technology could be used to illustrate mental images and even dreams.
Via Yomiuri
By van lease at 6:00 AM ON 12/12/08
This is fantastic. The ability to record, playback and analyse dreams is particularly fascinating. Don't you just love technology...
By Fetteredfey at 4:14 PM ON 12/12/08
This technology would be very useful for people like me and my father. I think in images and there are some carpentry skills my dad can't fully explain without showing.i think this would be a great help in the area of psychology as well
By Chris at 1:58 AM ON 12/15/08
It would be interesting to see what people in a coma are thinking about.
By Orhpen at 12:13 PM ON 12/15/08
This is amazing. If they manage to reverse the flow of data, basically take information form the outside world as seen through a camera and relay that information to the visual cortex of the brain, you could have the beta of prosthetic eyes.
By Lol at 8:46 PM ON 12/15/08
Neat tech. I've gotta wonder what method it uses for translation. Is it getting any actual detailed image of what you're seeing or is it just basically "woman in red shirt in street."
Stuff like this would be great for dreaming. Might even make lucid dreaming a more popular practice; laboriously remembering and recording dreams every morning and then practicing recognizing them takes a lot more effort than just looking at them on the screen and having that to spark your memory. And attaining at least sporadic lucidity would probably be as easy as reviewing your dream vids a few times throughout the day, screw all the repetitive methodologies :D
By DANYETTI at 11:55 AM ON 12/19/08
This is actually one of thoe most interesting, AND exciting things I've seen on this website thus far. I'm ecstatic to see this kind of technology in my lifetime, and it's wonderful to think things will get even more amazing in the near future. I will be determined to use one of these.
By JP at 5:05 PM ON 01/06/09
This is great, but what does it show? In the picture, is the screen directly in front of him the results of his thoughts, or the cause of them? Other words, is it what he's seeing in his mind? Or the image theyre trying to project, after presenting it to his mind? This could be used as memory recovery in Crime Investigations, Create a reality in your mind, watch it again and again, or imagine the tv show or movie, and make it without even filming, or for the erotic and sexual purposes.
By JP at 5:10 PM ON 01/06/09
This has uses in crime investigation, Television, and erotic and sexual uses. But is the picture on the screen in front of him the image produced from his mind?
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JP:
This has uses in crime investigation, Television, and erotic and sexual uses. But is the picture on the screen in f...More »