Scientists state that the further development of technology will not only improve the quality of transferring data, but also provide an opportunity to display our dreams.
Using a special device (abbreviated called fMRI), researchers analyzed the changes in cerebral blood flow of patients, and thus recreated images shown previously.
In the first stage experts showed a series of images to a man and traced changes in the direction of blood flow that had occurred in his cerebral cortex. The subjects were showing 400 random black and white images with the size of 10x10 pixels. Each illustration was demonstrated for 12 seconds. During that process fMRI was monitoring changes in brain activity and the computer was making calculations and comparing the results with the available digital data from the images.
Then the subject was showed a set of images (for example, the word "neuron"), and monitor displayed a ready-made words in real time, relying on data on changes in the brain.
So far system is able to display only simple black and white images, but Dr. Kang Cheng, the researcher of Institute of Brain RIKEN, is convinced that improving of the algorithm of computation can be achieved and will make possible to display color images.
"This is a real breakthrough in our understanding of brain activity," says Cheng. "In about 10 years it might become possible to “read” the human thoughts."
The researchers suggest that the future of this technology can be used in sphere of art and design. People will be able to draw a picture in seconds simply by imaging it. This technology, providing a "window" in a man's head would also be useful in medicine, for instance in psychiatry.
The Leading Researcher of ATR Yukiyasu Kamitani said that those principles could be applied to the senses. In the future we shall be able to understand the feelings and decipher the complex emotional states."
