An fMRI is mostly used as a diagnostic method of choice for learning how a normal, diseased or injured brain is working, as well as for assessing the potential risks of surgery or other invasive treatments of the brain. But did you know that it is also a machine that could read peoples thoughts? It was amazing to see a conduction of an instance analysis on a participant to prove their theory (identify the participant's thoughts in "real time"). With the combination of an fMRI and massive amount of computer data, they could detect for example; if the participant had seen an image of a "hammer", then the computer would respond that it was in deed, a "hammer". Another study they experimented on was reading a persons intentions; by deciding whether to add or subtract two numbers that were shown later on after the test. Once they finished scanning the participant and collected the images, they redirected to the active area of the brain that controls intentions to see what the participant had decided. You could really tell the difference between the patterns of when they either added or subtracted. It was true; an fMRI was in fact, a thought identification machine. The question is, should we use it for other purposes other than treating the brain? It could be used as another form of lie detection in situations such as; finding the real truth from a criminal or even a patient with an unknown disease. Everybody lies, but would you do an fMRI scan to prove your honesty?
cool video that you found Rubi! it really was interesting. I learned a lot, the whole testing and how they would do things were really amazing. Crazy.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting video but the whole idea of minding reading is absurd. I am totally against the idea. Sorry. Shouldn't our thoughts be our own thoughts? Why do we need to have people take that away from us. The guy in the video used a more nicer word than "mind reading" can't think of it right off the top of my head but overall there is no nice way to put mind reading. I think the more that it is practice the more people will think they can come into power and that could lead to caos. Don't you think that could be scary?
ReplyDeleteI thought it was pretty interesting to see how reading your mind can be possible. I mean I'm not sure if it is something that should be done to everyone but to read someone's mind is really interesting to me because as a future clinical psychologist I will be somewhat going into the minds of people and try to figure them out. Taking what someone tells you and interpreting it is different then actually knowing but I believe it might be okay if they gave us permission. And imagine if we were able to see into the minds of people who have just passed away. Think of all the geniuses who died with knowledge that they weren't able to put down on paper. It is kinda scary and intriguing.
ReplyDeletep.s. If you wanna see a movie about pin pointing memory and erasing it from the mind.. see "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"
Mind reading is something out of science fiction (I automatically thought of twilight). While there are pros and cons that come to mind, over all I would not like this. To me it is an invasion of privacy. I would like my thoughts to be my own unless i choose to express them. If this was to get into the wrong hands the world would be destroyed. But all negativity aside, it would be great improvement for science.
ReplyDelete