Scientists Build Mind-Reading Computer

An anonymous reader writes to tell us that researchers from Carnegie Mellon University have developed what they are calling a "mind reading computer." Using a panel of nine volunteers, the team built a "profile" of 58 test words based on brain scans taken while the volunteers were directed to think about the meaning of each test word. "'If I show you the brain images for two words, the main thing you notice is that they look pretty much alike. If you look at them for a while you might see subtle differences,' explains Tom Mitchell of the Machine Learning Department, which lead the study. 'We believe we have identified a number of the basic building blocks that the brain uses to represent meaning. These building blocks could be used to predict patterns for any concrete noun,' added Mitchell."

Mind Reading Computer?!

[prakslash]

Yet again we see a jounalist dumbing down scientific research into tabloid fodder.

What the CMU scientists have done is some preliminary brain imaging using MRI.

Here is a better CMU link [cmu.edu] with more details and pictures. The scientists hope that this research to could have applications in the study of autism, disorders of thought such as paranoid schizophrenia, and semantic dementias such as Pick's disease. Not once did they ominously dub their research as "mind reading" as claimed by the submitter.

Re:As dangerous as it is useful

[Shikaku]

I remember my password by keyboard location by my fingers.

Re:As dangerous as it is useful

[CastrTroy]

That's why you need real 2 factor authentication. Something you know, and something you have works well. So that even if somebody peeks over your shoulder (or into your brain), to figure out the password, they still don't have access.

Re:I, Robot story

[Eternauta3k]

Utter bitch? That story showed she had feelings!

Re:As dangerous as it is useful

[ceoyoyo]

Sure!

Here, would you please lie down while I slide you into this multi-tonne magnet. Thank you. Now, please lie very still and think about typing in your password, very slowly, one letter at a time. No more than one letter every ten seconds or so! Now please repeat a couple dozen times. Thank you for your cooperation.

I think it would be easier to just ask.

Re:And so it begins..

[why-is-it]

Would a Spanish person who is told to think of "coche", have a similar brain scan of an English person told to think of "car"?

Agreed. I suspect that true mind reading will be impossible because everyone will have different internal representations of concepts and ideas. Even amongst individuals who speak the same language, we should not assume that everyone will have the same representation of "car", even though people may have similar levels of brain activity in the same parts of the brain when they think about one.

Re:well that doesn't work

[Facegarden]

Not necessarily... If there truly are key areas that only deal with actually thinking about a noun, they should be unaffected by other brain processes like emotion, etc. One may be off daydreaming about that summer when they "experimented" with the neighbor boy in college, but the actual word "rainbow" is still sitting somewhere in his mind. ;)

I would, however, be inclined to believe that our brains are more complex than just having "areas" that have "activity" when certain things happen. Until we can map out each neuron in our brain and read its state, i don't think we're going to ever be able to fully read someone's mind... thank god. -Taylor

Re:Call me when it translates...

[orateam]

Of course this will eventually lead to computers to mapping and "determining" patterns that lead to criminal activities. Such as the mind of a pedafile or rapist. Reading your mind to see if you have "BAD THOUGHTS" capable of criminal activity, will lead to the government having the ability to read individuals for criminal minds and arresting for such thoughts and predicted activities.

Re:I, Robot story

[Zarf]

Utter bitch? That story showed she had feelings!

Women with feelings are bitches, men with feelings are pansies. Women without feelings are elf-tarts and men without feelings are vulcan-cakes.

FYI. That's geek dating slang in the big geek party scene. And, you're not part of the scene if you are cute and stupid... which is a 'tard-muffin.

Example:

Geek Girl1: Ooh, check out that chem-student what a chiseled IQ... he's a total vulcan-cake.
Geek Girl2: I scoped him already, he's dating a 'tard-muffin lit-major.
Geek Girl1: So, like totally, illogical! Why are all the vulcan-cakes taken by tard-muffins at this school? All that's left are the pansies.
Geek Girl2: Don't go bitch on me elf-girl. There's plenty of cranium out there.

Re:And so it begins..

[lbgator]

I think the GP is onto something a little different than what the parent interpreted. Language may be an unnecessary step in this experiment.

If someone is thinking "gee - I would love a hamburger" in English - would their brain scan be the same as a French guy thinking the same? If you started at some basic level (hunger, thirst, anger, love, pain) is there a common denominator in all brain activity? If there is commonality, can we hope to someday eliminate language and have comms come straight from the source?