Decoding Brain Activity

In a recent study in the journal "Science" researchers have used fMRI brain imaging technology to decode what a person is visualizing. The researchers scanned the brains of 9 volunteers as they looked at images of 60 everyday objects such as airplanes and celery. The researchers then trained a computer software program to be able to decode what image they were looking at by analyzing the neural signature on the fMRI image. So this is basically correlating brain activity with a person's subjective conscious experience. You can read more about this interesting study here.

Recently there was an interesting article in Wired magazine entitled "Brain Scans as Mind Readers? Don't Believe the Hype". It discusses that we should be wary about some of the claims that brain scans can read our inner thoughts. I do tend to see a reluctance and conservatism among some scientists who want to temper expectations of this type of technology among the public. Obviously it is still fairly early in the game. This recent study is certainly interesting but scientists are nowhere near being able to reliably read a person's mind. However I tend to think that advances in this area may come quicker than some people think. Many scientists don't take into account the increase in artificially intelligent software that is being created that can better analyze images. Brain Scanning technology itself is also increasing in resolution. Scientists are creating more and more accurate computer simulations (here and here) of the human brain as well. The convergence of this technology will mean an increasing ability to decode a person's brain activity and eventually this may mean we will really be able to read a person's mind in the future.