Posted on 02/08/2007 5:24:10 PM PST by fanfan
A team of world-leading neuroscientists has developed a powerful technique that allows them to look deep inside a person's brain and read their intentions before they act.
The team used high-resolution brain scans to identify patterns of activity before translating them into meaningful thoughts, revealing what a person planned to do in the near future. It is the first time scientists have succeeded in reading intentions in this way.
~snip~
The use of brain scanners to judge whether people are likely to commit crimes is a contentious issue that society should tackle now, according to Prof Haynes. "We see the danger that this might become compulsory one day, but we have to be aware that if we prohibit it, we are also denying people who aren't going to commit any crime the possibility of proving their innocence."
"A lot of neuroscientists in the field are very cautious and say we can't talk about reading individuals' minds, and right now that is very true, but we're moving ahead so rapidly, it's not going to be that long before we will be able to tell whether someone's making up a story, or whether someone intended to do a crime with a certain degree of certainty."
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Heh!
We'll survive it Stephen.
:-)
I want (nay, need) somewhere that I can indulge in personal thoughts, thoughts that I don’t want others to be cognizant of (he he), and my inner mind seems to be the last sanctuary for these thoughts. Now, even my personal inner sanctum is about to be exposed. Don’t like this at all, no sir, don’t like this at all.
With this technology, suicide would become more common or our morays would become even less restricted (if that were possible).
Don’t like this at all, no sir, don’t like this at all.
Smiles all around … ;--)
thanks, bfl
I knew you were going to say that.
Oh yeah we will!
Yep, reading one's mind would be the ultimate invasion of privacy. Tyrants would love it for reading the intentions of their opponents/subjects.
With this technology, suicide would become more common or our morays would become even less restricted (if that were possible).
Never thought about the suicide part, but good point.
Don’t like this at all, no sir, don’t like this at all.
Neither do I.
On behalf of my fellow denizens of the DD thread, I call upon this technology to be buried alive and slowly eaten by accounting orcs.
Nice conversation over tea and crullers.
The thought police are writing your arrest warrant,expect a knock on the door shortly.
My mother, who has passed away some years, used to tell me that when she was young she can remember being told "The atom, no, they'll never split that, it can't be done."
"Look at this picture. Scan my brain. What are my intentions?"
Sitting down to do some calculus?
They're gonna be real upset when they get to mine.
That is a great development. Just think about how easy it'll be to prosecute hate crimes from now on!
I've been saying this for years. IF you can do this, then we have no free will, because you can tell what someone is going to do before they do it.
The only way we can have free will is if there is a soul, outside the prewired brain patterns, that allow us to act outside what the synapses indicate we would do.
Wet bull squeeze..
I'm a scientist, and I knew you would say that!
Tin foil hat is in place now... Nyah..
For Demos and dunces, I use strong chemicals:
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