Scientists use brain imaging to reveal the movies in our mind

[fr0w]

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BERKELEY - Imagine tapping into the mind of a coma patient, or watching one’s own dream on YouTube. With a cutting-edge blend of brain imaging and computer simulation, scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, are bringing these futuristic scenarios within reach

Comments

[top_geezer]

Good post. Although I would have liked to hear your thoughts on this development.

[fr0w]

I think It's very exciting, but I don't think it's going to lead to any real ethical questions at this point since it's more or less just turning your eyes into very poor video cameras. I'd be interested in what happens during dreams, aside from better image quality, that's as far as it it will go, as they haven't really bridge the gap of mental information with digital information. MRI technology is going to have improved and get smaller for any practical use. I'd be curious as to what would happened if they used this technique on other lobes of the brain.

[top_geezer]

I think in the piece there was some suggestion that the images may become clearer with more development of the technology and that it may be possible to acquire images from other parts of the brain. This may raise some ethical questions as I could easily see some such images interpeted as 'thought crimes' by the authorities.

[fr0w]

blargch.. sorry but, I hate 1984 analogies.

[top_geezer]

I appreciate your distrust of references from popular culture.

However with the vast amount of research that goes into cognitive mapping and magnetic neurological manipulation, ableit touted for medical use, the question arises; where is the money for all this research coming from? Have the mega-corporations suddenly developed profoundly moral policies? Or can we assume that such research is aimed at developing technolgy for policing and security first and medicine second? I do not think it is too far a leap of the imagination to suggest that the corporate state would plow billions into any research that may lead to a way to broardcast the dreams or subconcious thoughts of any idealistic leftie in order to stop him or her from arising to public office.

Again thank you for posting this topic. I did see it myself but did not think to post it.