Scientists extract images directly from brain

DEEhunter · Post by **DEEhunter** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:38 pm

http://www.pinktentacle.com/2008/12/sci ... rom-brain/

Researchers from Japan’s ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories have developed new brain analysis technology that can reconstruct the images inside a person’s mind and display them on a computer monitor, it was announced on December 11. According to the researchers, further development of the technology may soon make it possible to view other people’s dreams while they sleep.

The scientists were able to reconstruct various images viewed by a person by analyzing changes in their cerebral blood flow. Using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine, the researchers first mapped the blood flow changes that occurred in the cerebral visual cortex as subjects viewed various images held in front of their eyes. Subjects were shown 400 random 10 x 10 pixel black-and-white images for a period of 12 seconds each. While the fMRI machine monitored the changes in brain activity, a computer crunched the data and learned to associate the various changes in brain activity with the different image designs.

Then, when the test subjects were shown a completely new set of images, such as the letters N-E-U-R-O-N, the system was able to reconstruct and display what the test subjects were viewing based solely on their brain activity.

For now, the system is only able to reproduce simple black-and-white images. But Dr. Kang Cheng, a researcher from the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, suggests that improving the measurement accuracy will make it possible to reproduce images in color.

“These results are a breakthrough in terms of understanding brain activity,” says Dr. Cheng. “In as little as 10 years, advances in this field of research may make it possible to read a person’s thoughts with some degree of accuracy.”

The researchers suggest a future version of this technology could be applied in the fields of art and design — particularly if it becomes possible to quickly and accurately access images existing inside an artist’s head. The technology might also lead to new treatments for conditions such as psychiatric disorders involving hallucinations, by providing doctors a direct window into the mind of the patient.

ATR chief researcher Yukiyasu Kamitani says, “This technology can also be applied to senses other than vision. In the future, it may also become possible to read feelings and complicated emotional states.”

The research results appear in the December 11 issue of US science journal Neuron.

Apparently. We think in 2 bit colors.

Tural · Post by **Tural** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:55 pm

Neat.

shadowkhas · Post by **shadowkhas** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:56 pm

That, or we just can't detect more than black and white yet.

But it's a cool development, if not a little creepy.

JK-47 · Post by **JK-47** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:15 pm

Reminds me of an episode of Fringe.
It also reminds me of awesome.

[IA]Paul · Post by **[IA]Paul** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 5:30 am

Perverts beware.

Looks really cool, but I bet it's expensive as hell to do, so I wouldn't go off and do it as recreation.

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:03 am

Send images into the brain... A new form of advertising.

Philly · Post by **Philly** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 6:58 am

Tural might have something to say about that.

Also, this is cool.

Xeno2 · Post by **Xeno2** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:17 am

ScottyGEE wrote:A new form of advertising.

I severely hope not.
If this was to develop into a new form of advertising there would either be mass suicides or it would be banned along with subliminal messaging.

Pepsi · Post by **Pepsi** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:38 am

Anyone remember a movie called "Scanners"?

First thing I thought of when I read this.

Tural · Post by **Tural** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:31 am

Xeno2 wrote:I severely hope not.
If this was to develop into a new form of advertising there would either be mass suicides or it would be banned along with subliminal messaging.

It was a reference to a Futurama episode.
LIGHTSPEED BRAND BRIEFS.

MoDFox · Post by **MoDFox** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:36 am

Tural wrote:It was a reference to a Futurama episode.
LIGHTSPEED BRAND BRIEFS.

That is exactly what I was going to say.
Also... thats pretty damn awesome.

turk645 · Post by **turk645** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:52 am

Interesting. If it did get used for recreational use then I would love a personal dream record since I cant remember them usually. Would also be interesitng to just see what the hell goes on in my head at night

.

bcnipod · Post by **bcnipod** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 11:57 am

this would be a bit weird seeing that it would appear the way you see it...a bit interesting when you think about how this would work on someone that had hallucinations.

turk645 · Post by **turk645** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 12:01 pm

Even more interesting would be the use on people who have been bed ridden and called mentaly dead.

CptnNsan0 · Post by **CptnNsan0** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:07 pm

This is cool

Philly · Post by **Philly** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 2:32 pm

Actually, it would be pretty weird to see a real dream.

G.I.R. · Post by **G.I.R.** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:03 pm

Tural wrote:
Xeno2 wrote:I severely hope not.
If this was to develop into a new form of advertising there would either be mass suicides or it would be banned along with subliminal messaging.
It was a reference to a Futurama episode.
LIGHTSPEED BRAND BRIEFS.

I love the new Bachelor Chow dream-ads, don't you?

CompKronos · Post by **CompKronos** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:28 pm

G.I.R. wrote:
Tural wrote:
Xeno2 wrote:I severely hope not.
If this was to develop into a new form of advertising there would either be mass suicides or it would be banned along with subliminal messaging.
It was a reference to a Futurama episode.
LIGHTSPEED BRAND BRIEFS.
I love the new Bachelor Chow dream-ads, don't you?

All hail hypno-toad

noscottno · Post by **noscottno** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 3:38 pm

CompKronos wrote:
G.I.R. wrote:
Tural wrote:
Xeno2 wrote:I severely hope not.
If this was to develop into a new form of advertising there would either be mass suicides or it would be banned along with subliminal messaging.
It was a reference to a Futurama episode.
LIGHTSPEED BRAND BRIEFS.
I love the new Bachelor Chow dream-ads, don't you?
All hail hypno-toad

Hypno-toad is really fucking stupid.

Whale Biologist.

ScottyGEE · Post by **ScottyGEE** » Sat Dec 13, 2008 4:38 pm

Tural wrote:
Xeno2 wrote:I severely hope not.
If this was to develop into a new form of advertising there would either be mass suicides or it would be banned along with subliminal messaging.
It was a reference to a Futurama episode.
LIGHTSPEED BRAND BRIEFS.

Actually it wasn't. I would think that something like that would undergo testing in future... Though now that you mention that, Futurama reference is cool too