Dr Cerf makes his bold claim based on an initial study which he says suggests that the activity of individual brain cells, or neurons, are associated with specific objects or concepts.
He found, for example, that when a volunteer was thinking of Marilyn Monroe, a particular neuron lit up.
By showing volunteers a series of images, Dr Cerf and his colleagues were able to identify neurons for a wide range of objects and concepts – which they used to build up a database for each patient. These included Bill and Hilary Clinton, the Eiffel Tower and celebrities.
So by observing which brain cell lit up and when, Dr Cerf says he was effectively able to “read the subjects’ minds”.
He admits that there is a very long way to go before this simple observation can be translated into a device to record dreams, or dream catcher. But he thinks it is a possibility – and he said he would like to try.
BBC: Dream recording device ‘possible’ researcher claims
Cerf also mentions the possibility of reading people’s thoughts when they are in comas. It seems like this could other, more dubious applications as well.
(via Wade)
See also: Dream recording project
October 28, 2010 at 2:38 am
Well, I’m freaked out.
October 28, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Doesn’t this conflict with Karl Pribram’s earlier research showing that memories, associations, etc. are non-local in the brain and can remain even when large sections are removed?