Comments on: Scientists Read Images Directly Out of the Brain http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain grep understanding Fri, 25 May 2012 02:15:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Gary Fisk http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-236884 Gary Fisk Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:09:56 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-236884 <p>This is very cool. This was accomplished in cats several years ago, so it is not too surprising that reading visual images straight out of the brain can be done in humans.</p> <p>The visual system is the part of the cerebral cortex that is understood the best. This finding is relatively straight forward in some ways because the lower level areas of visual cortex have a direct correspondence to specific sites on the retina (retinotopic organization). In other words, part A in the retina goes to part A of the primary visual cortex, part B goes to part B of the primary visual cortex and so on. So if you knew what areas of primary visual cortex were being activated you could develop a good idea of the image that was being processed by the retina.</p> <p>The reason I'm going into this level of detail is to make the point that it is going to be much more difficult to do this kind of thing with thoughts, intentions, decisions and other cognitive phenomena. These are not nearly as well understood as vision. But maybe it will be possible to process cognitive processes like this someday.</p> This is very cool. This was accomplished in cats several years ago, so it is not too surprising that reading visual images straight out of the brain can be done in humans.

The visual system is the part of the cerebral cortex that is understood the best. This finding is relatively straight forward in some ways because the lower level areas of visual cortex have a direct correspondence to specific sites on the retina (retinotopic organization). In other words, part A in the retina goes to part A of the primary visual cortex, part B goes to part B of the primary visual cortex and so on. So if you knew what areas of primary visual cortex were being activated you could develop a good idea of the image that was being processed by the retina.

The reason I’m going into this level of detail is to make the point that it is going to be much more difficult to do this kind of thing with thoughts, intentions, decisions and other cognitive phenomena. These are not nearly as well understood as vision. But maybe it will be possible to process cognitive processes like this someday.

]]> By: Gary Fisk http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-253699 Gary Fisk Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:09:00 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-253699 <p>This is very cool. This was accomplished in cats several years ago, so it is not too surprising that reading visual images straight out of the brain can be done in humans.</p> <p>The visual system is the part of the cerebral cortex that is understood the best. This finding is relatively straight forward in some ways because the lower level areas of visual cortex have a direct correspondence to specific sites on the retina (retinotopic organization). In other words, part A in the retina goes to part A of the primary visual cortex, part B goes to part B of the primary visual cortex and so on. So if you knew what areas of primary visual cortex were being activated you could develop a good idea of the image that was being processed by the retina.</p> <p>The reason I'm going into this level of detail is to make the point that it is going to be much more difficult to do this kind of thing with thoughts, intentions, decisions and other cognitive phenomena. These are not nearly as well understood as vision. But maybe it will be possible to process cognitive processes like this someday.</p> This is very cool. This was accomplished in cats several years ago, so it is not too surprising that reading visual images straight out of the brain can be done in humans.

The visual system is the part of the cerebral cortex that is understood the best. This finding is relatively straight forward in some ways because the lower level areas of visual cortex have a direct correspondence to specific sites on the retina (retinotopic organization). In other words, part A in the retina goes to part A of the primary visual cortex, part B goes to part B of the primary visual cortex and so on. So if you knew what areas of primary visual cortex were being activated you could develop a good idea of the image that was being processed by the retina.

The reason I’m going into this level of detail is to make the point that it is going to be much more difficult to do this kind of thing with thoughts, intentions, decisions and other cognitive phenomena. These are not nearly as well understood as vision. But maybe it will be possible to process cognitive processes like this someday.

]]> By: Daniel Miessler http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-242055 Daniel Miessler Sat, 13 Dec 2008 03:30:55 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-242055 <p>I don't think this is the type of visualization they're talking about. It's going to be difficult to create what you can't visually articulate yourself, since the image is that of your articulation.</p> I don't think this is the type of visualization they're talking about. It's going to be difficult to create what you can't visually articulate yourself, since the image is that of your articulation.

]]> By: Daniel Miessler http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-240213 Daniel Miessler Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:30:55 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-240213 <p>I don't think this is the type of visualization they're talking about. It's going to be difficult to create what you can't visually articulate yourself, since the image is that of your articulation.</p> I don't think this is the type of visualization they're talking about. It's going to be difficult to create what you can't visually articulate yourself, since the image is that of your articulation.

]]> By: Daniel Miessler http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-236283 Daniel Miessler Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:30:55 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-236283 <p>I don't think this is the type of visualization they're talking about. It's going to be difficult to create what you can't visually articulate yourself, since the image is that of your articulation.</p> I don't think this is the type of visualization they're talking about. It's going to be difficult to create what you can't visually articulate yourself, since the image is that of your articulation.

]]> By: TIMM http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-236260 TIMM Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:29:26 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-236260 <p>when will this be used for official purposes, like producing testimony in lawsuits and such?<br><br>imagine being compelled to provide mental images of your attackers, your accomplices, your friends and relatives. what would the chinese government do with this?<br><br>i'm very confident that there will be a trial where this will be utilized.<br><br>-=T=-</p> when will this be used for official purposes, like producing testimony in lawsuits and such?

imagine being compelled to provide mental images of your attackers, your accomplices, your friends and relatives. what would the chinese government do with this?

i'm very confident that there will be a trial where this will be utilized.

-=T=-

]]> By: Gabriel Doss http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-236250 Gabriel Doss Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:58:24 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-236250 <p>Distraction--The first rule of completely invasive technology that would make the ability to gather massive amounts of personal data from someone. But hey, pretty pictures!<br><br>I too would like a system that could reproduce my mental images on a screen as my ability to reproduce my thoughts is pathetic. I picture Goya or even Berkeley Breathed and get XKCD. Too bad all the other messy details with the technology are still there. I do not believe those in power or who want power will be able to control themselves.</p> Distraction–The first rule of completely invasive technology that would make the ability to gather massive amounts of personal data from someone. But hey, pretty pictures!

I too would like a system that could reproduce my mental images on a screen as my ability to reproduce my thoughts is pathetic. I picture Goya or even Berkeley Breathed and get XKCD. Too bad all the other messy details with the technology are still there. I do not believe those in power or who want power will be able to control themselves.

]]> By: Brooks Garrett http://danielmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain/comment-page-1#comment-236235 Brooks Garrett Fri, 12 Dec 2008 12:47:55 +0000 http://dmiessler.com/blog/scientists-read-images-directly-out-of-the-brain#comment-236235 <p>Oddly enough, my first thought was along the art lines too. I often have really creative ideas that I can visualize, but never reproduce in reality. Imagine a system where I can go from mind to screen...</p> Oddly enough, my first thought was along the art lines too. I often have really creative ideas that I can visualize, but never reproduce in reality. Imagine a system where I can go from mind to screen…

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