Is science going too far?

[Captain Morgan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081211...t_081211052641

TOKYO (AFP) – A Japanese research team has revealed it had created a technology that could eventually display on a computer screen what people have on their minds, such as dreams.

Researchers at the ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories succeeded in processing and displaying images directly from the human brain, they said in a study unveiled ahead of publication in the US magazine Neuron.

While the team for now has managed to reproduce only simple images from the brain, they said the technology could eventually be used to figure out dreams and other secrets inside people's minds.

"It was the first time in the world that it was possible to visualise what people see directly from the brain activity," the private institute said in a statement.

"By applying this technology, it may become possible to record and replay subjective images that people perceive like dreams."

When people look at an object, the eye's retina recognises an image that is converted into electrical signals which go into the brain's visual cortex.

The team, led by chief researcher Yukiyasu Kamitani, succeeded in catching the signals and then reconstructing what people see.

In their experiment, the researchers showed people the six letters in the word "neuron" and then succeeded in reconstructing the letters on a computer screen by measuring their brain activity.

The team said that it first figured out people's individual brain patterns by showing them some 400 different still images.

If they read my mind, they'll mostly just see porn.

[Hondahugger]

Sounds like one of the Batman movies!

[AquaPython]

why is it going too far?

[Amorok]

Aside from making the ultimate invasion of privacy possible and all the abuses the government can wet dream up for it, do you really want to know what other people are thinking? Imagine if the veil of politeness were ripped away from your marriage and every sarcastic or disparaging thought your wife had about you was suddenly available for your perusal? A 50% divorce rate would be a dream.

"We're science. We're all about the coulda, not the shoulda!"

[Rider]

Holy shit, I'd be fired at work for sure. Possibly even jailed for some of my thoughts.

[Captain Morgan]

Originally Posted by Rider

Holy shit, I'd be fired at work for sure. Possibly even jailed for some of my thoughts.

Same here! I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I were committed due to some of the odd thoughts that run through my head when I'm not thinking about sex. And some of the ones that run through my head while I AM thinking about sex.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by Amorok

Aside from making the ultimate invasion of privacy possible and all the abuses the government can wet dream up for it, do you really want to know what other people are thinking? Imagine if the veil of politeness were ripped away from your marriage and every sarcastic or disparaging thought your wife had about you was suddenly available for your perusal? A 50% divorce rate would be a dream.

"We're science. We're all about the coulda, not the shoulda!"

The interesting part is how do you *prove* it?

[HurricaneHeather]

"In their experiment, the researchers showed people the six letters in the word "neuron" and then succeeded in reconstructing the letters on a computer screen by measuring their brain activity."

So was the image in the same font as the word they were showed?

[Amorok]

Originally Posted by azoomm

The interesting part is how do you *prove* it?

Same way they prove a polygraph, I guess. They'll believe the machine over you, of course you're going to lie about dreaming of murdering someone. We'll just go ahead and throw you in jail to prevent that crime. Minority Report 2!

[smileyman]

You don't wann go in there buddy!!!! ickl e: