Researchers Propose Reading Thoughts Remotely
Study Concludes It Is Possible To Read a Person's Mind Remotely
Though it may sound fantastic or even unbelievable, two researchers in Canada specializing in brain-computer interface technology have proposed a new non-invasive way to read a person's thoughts.
The findings are the result of a study published in the February, 2009 issue of the Journal of Neural Engineering entitled, "Decoding subjective preference from single-trial near-infrared spectroscopy signals."
Sheena Luu and Tom Chau of the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering and the Bloorville Research Institute believe near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) may lead to a process whereby decision-making thoughts are decoded and interpreted non-invasively.
During the study, nine subjects were asked to evaluate two drinks and decide upon which one they liked better. NIRS was used to image each subject's prefrontal cortex during their decision-making.
The researchers then decoded which drink was preferred by each subject using linear discriminant analysis and mean signal amplitudes as features.
The accuracy of the study was astounding, if not a bit eerie: the researchers were able to decode which drink was preferred with an average accuracy of 80 percent. This means that in point of fact, the researchers had found a way to read a person's mind.
Decoding Brain-Computer Interface
Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a neurological field of research that focuses on how to connect man and machine.
While BCI conjures up images of sci-fi gone awry and the same man versus machine argument presented in films such as The Terminator, researchers believe the neurological technology has great potential for many real-world applications.
Luu and Chau explain the goal of BCI research as providing a medium through which a person is able to communicate functional intent directly through thoughts. Potential uses for BCI include disabled persons using thoughts to operate computers and gaming.
The Role of Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in BCI
In their study, Luu and Chau cite near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as "a safe, portable and relatively low-cost signal acquisition tool for non-invasive brain–computer interface (BCI) development."
In the past, BCI has been depicted as physically "plugging in" to a person's neurological systems as portrayed in such Hollywood sci-fi films as The Matrix. Luu and Chau's proposal of using NIRS for communication of functional intent through thought aims to challenge this line of thinking.
Will NIRS-BCI result in an Orwellian world where omniscient totalitarian leaders finally discover the ultimate advantage over the entire human population - the ability to read minds? Privacy advocates don't have to worry about it quite yet, but it most certainly is something to keep an eye on.
Spectroscopy Paradigms
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