A computer that can 'read' your mind
This article is about a research conducted by Tom Mitchell, a computer scientist, and Marcel Just, a cognitive neuroscientist, which is about 'reading' a person's mind with the help of modern technology.
The technology used in this research is functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), which is capable of detecting and locating brain activity when a person is thinking of a certain word. Thus, the researchers are able to develop a computational model that enables a computer to correctly predict what word is the person being tested thinking of by analysing the brain scan data with the help of the research results. They are now planning to expand this technology to the extend of predicting the brain patterns when the person is being associated with concrete nouns or things that he experiences with his own senses.
This technology could eventually lead to the use of brain scan data to identify thoughts and have useful applications in the studies of health problems that is either directly or indirectly related to the brain.
National Science Foundation. (2008, May 30). A computer that can 'read' your mind. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from http:/www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=111641&org=olpa&from=news
Ethics and mapping the brain
This article mainly talks about the effects that the research of studying brain activity patterns may bring and some of the ethical issues which arises with this study. The main concern of this article is whether or not this technology should be used if the research is successful and if it should be used, who should they used it on.
The article also talks about setting some rules and standards should this brain scanning technology is used in the society. Some of the standards include which part of the technology is ready to be used in the market and which is not, if we should have every one's brain scan data and who would run it and the issue of using this test on the children. Hence, most of these standards are related to ethical issues.
Marano, L. (2003, June 3). Ethics and mapping the brain(An abridged version of the original in The Washington Times). Retrieved March 1, 2009, from the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics Web site: http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/neuro/brain_mapping_ethics.htm
The benefits that the research of brain scanning brings may be useful in today's society. For example, as mentioned in the first article, it can help predict what word a person is thinking of by studying the brain activity patterns. This can be applied in helping us to understand those people who are unable to speak due to illness. Hence, we can extend our aid to these people in much more ways as compared to the past. It can also help in identifying potential threats such as terrorists or murder cases that have yet to happen. Thus, making our society a safer place.
However, there are problems with the use of such technology. For example, in the second article, even though the person does not have any motive when taking the test, she was fired due to the results of her brain scan which shows that she has surprising familarity with assult rifle. Also, there are issues of privacy especially since it can tell what word a person is thinking of and how he reacts to it.
Lastly, the 5 vocaburary words.
Neuroscientist: an individual who studies the scientific field of neuroscience
Computational model: a mathematical model in computational science that requires extensive computational resources to study the behavior of a complex system by computer simulation
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI): a type of scan that measures the haemodynamic response related to activity in the brain
Ethical issues: issues that concerns about proper conduct of society
Schizophrenia: a diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception or expression of reality
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