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Japanese Scientists Claim To Reconstruct Images From Brain Data

In a world first, a research group in Kyoto Japan has succeeded in processing and displaying optically received images directly from the human brain. Here's the Japanese press release for good measure. One step closer to broadcasting your dreams? The research is due to be published today in the US scientific journal Neuron

10 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. Predictably by AltGrendel · · Score: 5, Funny

    It was a male subject and the image was Hentai.

    --
    The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination

    - Douglas Adams

  2. No more lack of artistic skills for me by Ifandbut · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I have lots of cool images in my head for comics and wallpaper, however I lack the artistic talent to bring those images from my mind to paper/photoshop. Maybe soon I will be able to compensate for my lack of artistic ability.

  3. Re:Kinda neat, not that exciting though by Futile+Rhetoric · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Can we "keep images in our heads" at all? When I try to, it is more of a feeling than an image, and it's a fragmentary one at that. Wouldn't it make sense if our imagination worked a lot like our vision, i.e. we can only focus on small bits of the visual field at once, and so would only be able to imagine those pieces and attributes of an image pertinent to our needs or wants?

    I'm free-balling here, mind. I can't seem to put coherent, complete images in my head, but others very well might.

  4. Re:No pictures? by Peeet · · Score: 5, Informative

    It's right there on the Japanese press release page, you can see at the bottom of the image at the top left of the article, they have the before and after of the word "neuron". Here, I'll make it even easier for ya: http://www2.asahi.com/kansai/news/image/OSK200812100099.jpg

  5. Re:Kinda neat, not that exciting though by geekoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    And imagine spending the next week try to figure out GIMP to be able to do anything with it~

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  6. Feedback Loop? by drpentode · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Would looking at the image your brain is generating at the same time you are generating it create a feedback loop much like holding a microphone too close to a speaker?

  7. Does it get lonely up in your crystal tower? by ovu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "The current accomplishment is low hanging fruit and therefore uninteresting. Surprising, really, that they found funding for such an unnecessary demonstration at all! By commercializing this technology, it would become sufficiently interesting to deserve my royal approval."

    Belittling humanity's incremental advancement as if you're a third party, how's that working out for you?

    I think it's tremendously exciting. Thanks for the buzzkill though, it reminds me to get off the computer and interact with people of my choosing.

  8. Re:Dreaming Is A Private Thing by jollyreaper · · Score: 5, Funny

    As to writing about stuff that never happened, THIS never happened - until now. The "hyperdrive" (what Roddenberry renamed "warp drive") was never invented - yet. Roddenberry and his writers were prescient, too. I remember a world without cell phones, flat screen talking computers, self-opening doors, and space shuttles (I remember a world without space travel at all).

    Wow. Your UID should have a minus sign in front of it.

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne
  9. Re:This is so cool! by Omestes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This , if true , will have HUGE implications - we'll be able to see what people THINK.

    Data in V1/V2 does not constitute cognition, those areas constitute pretty much a visual map of data gathered by the eye (roughly). Its doubtful that imagined visuals are even represented in these areas. This, in other words, doesn't provide any insight into thoughts, just what people see.

    I admit, though, that this is awesome. If we can read it, we theoretically could write to it, which would allow for direct neural interfaces.

    --
    A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government. -edward abbey
  10. Re:Dreaming Is A Private Thing by gnick · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sorry - If you don't recognize the quote and have no context, it's not funny at all.

    Vonnegut (misspelled in my post above) became honorary president of the American Humanist Association after Isaac Asimov, their former president, passed on. As such, he had the somewhat awkward honor of addressing the Association at their first meeting after losing their president and had to come up with some way to say goodbye to Isaac and start his speech. (If you're unfamiliar with Humanism, it's an entirely human-based religion/philosophy. Its members are largely atheist or agnostic and practice strict scientific skepticism while shunning religious superstitions or unsupported beliefs - Heaven/Hell included. The idea that Asimov, as president of the AHA, would have any literal belief in Heaven would be ludicrous.)

    According to Vonnegut, opening his speech with

    Isaac's in heaven now.

    not only did a great job of breaking the ice in a very awkward situation, but set the entire ball-room laughing out loud.

    --
    He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.