Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Study Shows Direct Brain Interface Between Humans

Posted by samzenpus on from the I-want-to-know-what-you're-thinking dept.

vinces99 writes University of Washington researchers have successfully replicated a direct brain-to-brain connection between pairs of people as part of a scientific study following the team's initial demonstration a year ago. In the newly published study, which involved six people, researchers were able to transmit the signals from one person's brain over the Internet and use these signals to control the hand motions of another person within a split second of sending that signal.

14 of 110 comments (clear)

  1. Don't we already do that? by mozumder · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I type a comment here, and it goes into your brain.

    This comment is now about steak.

    You are now picturing a juicy steak inside your brain.

    1. Re:Don't we already do that? by koan · · Score: 5, Funny

      Think "orgasm"

      --
      "If any question why we died, Tell them because our fathers lied."
    2. Re:Don't we already do that? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Thank you!

      I'm going to come back and read your comment again in a little while. I just need about 10 minutes.

    3. Re:Don't we already do that? by radtea · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I type a comment here, and it goes into your brain.

      But it doesn't go directly into my brain!

      Where "directly" apparently means "via millions of dollars of highly specialized equipment", which is a use that only is only found in headlines on stories like this one.

      "Humans can now transport themselves directly to the store in an automobile!"

      Why is it that when we cut out the use of one organ--our feet in the case of automobiles--we all recognize that only a gibbering idiot would describe the resulting walking-free transportation process as "direct", but in the case of cutting out the use of the mouth almost everyone buys into this idiotic claim that its replacement by millions of dollars of gear is "direct"?

      --
      Blasphemy is a human right. Blasphemophobia kills.
    4. Re:Don't we already do that? by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny

      Think "orgasm"

      Sure, but, like in the movie Firefox you must think in Russian ...

      --
      It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
    5. Re:Don't we already do that? by jythie · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I don't know, this sounds pretty 'direct' to me since it is sending raw signals into the brain rather then using any of our existing specialized sense organs. The only way it could be more direct is if you started sticking spikes in people's heads or removed parts of their skull and sorts slapped two people's raw exposed brainmeats together.

      As for 'millions of dollars', I am guessing you have never worked in University research. These projects tend to be very shoestring when it comes to budget.

  2. That's Kinda Creepy... by Stormy+Dragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Is the "receiver" subjectively aware that the decision to move their hand was imposed from outside, or did it seem like their own spontaneous decisions? (Obviously they're rationally aware it's imposed since they have a giant machine strapped to their head, but what does it "feel like" from inside their mind?)

    1. Re:That's Kinda Creepy... by Stormy+Dragon · · Score: 4, Informative

      The article doesn't say though. Some neuroscientists argye that the initiation of action may preceed the initation of the perception of "willing it":

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N...

      If that is the case, it could be there's a method of forcing movement that would be perceived as your own actions.

  3. Re:OK by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Since Google is having trouble legalizing self-driving cars, now they can use this technology to self-drive humans who in turn drive the cars!

  4. Person-to-person telepathy is all well and good by mark-t · · Score: 4, Interesting

    But what I'd really like to control just by thinking about it is my computer. No more wrist RSI...

    Also, I can think at least 10 times faster than I can type... so I could get more stuff done in the same amount of time.

    --
    File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
    1. Re:Person-to-person telepathy is all well and good by DigitAl56K · · Score: 5, Funny

      Also, I can think at least 10 times faster than I can type... so I could get more stuff done in the same amount of time.

      Brain-computer demo (internal voice):
      "Visit Slashdot"
      "Fucking beta..."
      "No no no, go back!"
      "Damn, Amazon ads are creepy, I was just searching for a new stereo system!"
      "no no no, I don't want to search for a stereo system, go back!"
      "reads post explaining vulnerability that tricks brain-computer interface into issuing commands using your internal reading voice select all files permanently delete confirm"
      "wait! fuck! nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!"

  5. telepathic typing is the future by doctor+woot · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd really tits be hopeful tits for a future in which tits your thoughts result directly tits in all kinds of work without further input tits. Imagine GIGANTIC ASSES being able to stop a malfunctioning machine part tits from causing damage without needing to scramble tits for the controls or quickly punch in code, safely and assurately. Communicating when tits you'll arrive somewhere shit did anybody see me do that can happen while driving without the need to tits take your eyes off the road to interface with your phone, making orders ass online could be a snap, the opportunities are limitless.

  6. Cool and all, but a couple of things came to mind. by Hussman32 · · Score: 3, Informative

    1. Who is funding the research?

    The research published in PLOS ONE was initially funded by the U.S. Army Research Office and the UW, with additional support from the Keck Foundation.

    2. What will the Army do with it?

    --
    "Who are you?" "No one of consequence." "I must know." "Get used to disappointment."
  7. Stop hitting yourself. by vistic · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Remotely control the body of another person with your own mind via the internet... the future of siblings playing "Why are you hitting yourself? Stop hitting yourself! Come on... stop hitting yourself!" never looked brighter.