Researchers build first-ever brain-to-brain network for thought exchange
Researchers have built a system called BrainNet which allows an actual exchange of thoughts between the brains.
Deccan Chronicle
Soon, you may be able to share thoughts with friends
People
often wonder if it is possible to share thoughts without actually
saying or writing. The idea, often dubbed as telepathy, is nothing more
than a belief, but ...
Sharing Thoughts: The Ultimate Intimacy?
What would you do if you could share your most intimate thoughts directly with your lover? That’s not a rhetorical question. That’s not another one of my sexy thought experiments either. It’s a real, honest question that may end up having major implications in the real world.
I like to keep up with technology. I’ve always been interested in what the future holds. However, I’m one of those guys who likes to contemplate how this future technology will impact our sex lives. It’s not just because it makes for some crazy sexy thoughts. As an aspiring erotica/romance writer, it helps give me new ideas. Some have already found their way into my novels, namely “Skin Deep.”
So why does something like sharing thoughts seem so relevant? It’s not like it’s a new idea. Sharing thoughts, or telepathy as some call it, is already a major part of popular culture. From movies like “Inception” to iconic superheroes like Charles Xavier from the X-men, it’s just one of those fun concepts that makes for interesting plots, but doesn’t exactly surprise anyone anymore.
That could change one day though. In fact, that day may come sooner than you think. Brain-to-brain communication, or techno-telepathy if you want to call it that, has been under development for a long time now. It’s not just so we can share our dirtiest fantasies, including those that involve clowns and steel dildos. There are major medical applications to this concept.
Earlier this year, the first major tests in brain-to-brain communication allowed two humans to exchange thoughts, albeit in a very limited fashion, to answer a series of yes-or-no questions. This isn’t David Blaine playing mind games with card tricks. These are ordinary people using extraordinary technology to share thoughts. For those trapped in comas or paralyzed by strokes, this technology is critical.
While I’m all for helping those in comas or those who are paralyzed communicate, I think the larger implications of techno-telepathy are more enticing, especially when applied to our love lives. All technology starts out bulky, expensive, and limited at first. Then, once it matures and people realize it has profitable, non-medical uses, it gets more compact and efficient. It happened with smartphones. It can happen with techno-telepathy.
This technology may still be a ways towards maturing, but it’s no longer something that’s just on the drawing board. This technology has already come out of the womb and is starting to grow. All the incentives are there. It’s just a matter of time and energy.
So going back to my original question, what would you do if it were possible to share your intimate thoughts with another? What kind of thoughts would you share? Would it make you and your partner closer? Would it make them run away in disgust, traumatized that anyone could think about their old history teacher in that sort of way?
Granted, there may be some awkward moments. The entire first half of the movie “What Women Want” explores those moments. However, we humans are capable of overcoming awkwardness. If we can overcome puberty, we can overcome pretty much very kind of awkwardness that doesn’t involve our mothers and the delivery guy.
There’s also a pragmatic element to sharing thoughts with someone. Poor communication is one of the quickest ways to kill a romance that doesn’t involve bankruptcy. Poor communication, or a failure to understand the context of someone’s words, isn’t just damaging to our love lives. It’s basically the plot to half of every episode of every sitcom and romance movie ever made.
It happens so often that we think it’s normal. Two people are in love. They want to build a relationship. They struggle because someone says something that gets taken the wrong way. They can’t be sure what they meant or how they meant it so they get all upset and agitated about it. Hilarity, heartache, and entertainment follow, usually culminating in some big romantic speech by Hugh Grant at the end.
Pretty much all of that crap could be avoided if those involved could just share their thoughts. There would be no ambiguity. There would be no doubt, uncertainty, or reservation.
Imagine a relationship where you knew your partner really loved you. They weren’t trying to get your money. They weren’t trying to impress their parents. They weren’t secretly gay or bisexual. They just really love you and you didn’t have to doubt that. What would that mean for your relationship and others like you?
If we live in a world where we can share our most intimate thoughts, then would that strengthen our romantic bonds? Would that reduce the amount of stagnant, passionless relationships? Would it also necessarily undermine the privacy of our thoughts?
These are all important questions to contemplate, especially for those of the coming generation who already share so much of themselves on social media. Is this the natural evolution of intimacy and romance? Only time will tell. I just hope I can turn it into some sexy stories before then.
Soon, you may be able to share thoughts with friends
02 Oct 2018 |
By
Shubham Sharma
People often wonder if it is possible to share thoughts without actually saying or writing something.
The idea, often dubbed as telepathy, is nothing more than a belief, but thanks to sophisticated brain-interfacing technologies, some engineers have accomplished something eerily similar.
They've created a brain network that lets three individuals share thoughts and play a game of Tetris.
Here are the details.
The idea, often dubbed as telepathy, is nothing more than a belief, but thanks to sophisticated brain-interfacing technologies, some engineers have accomplished something eerily similar.
They've created a brain network that lets three individuals share thoughts and play a game of Tetris.
Here are the details.
In context: Soon, you can share thoughts with others
02 Oct 2018Soon, you may be able to share thoughts with friends
❮
Brain interface toolsBrain signal generation, mapping
In order to transmit thoughts
from one person to another, the team created a brain-to-brain network
-BrainNet - using electroencephalograms (EEG) and Transcranial magnetic
stimulation (TMS).
EEG maps brain signals, while TMS transmits those signals to the other party. Both tools have already been used for direct two-way interaction, but in this case, the new network scales it up to a group of three.
EEG maps brain signals, while TMS transmits those signals to the other party. Both tools have already been used for direct two-way interaction, but in this case, the new network scales it up to a group of three.
ExperimentThe experiment conducted via BrainNet
To transmit thoughts, the team
started the game and connected three individuals, all in separate rooms,
on the newly-developed network.
The first two were allowed to see the game, while the third didn't see the bottom half and was required to act on the commands they transmitted.
The senders looked at how the falling block had to be rotated and issued commands.
The first two were allowed to see the game, while the third didn't see the bottom half and was required to act on the commands they transmitted.
The senders looked at how the falling block had to be rotated and issued commands.
Signal transmissionBut, how the commands were issued to the receiver?
After seeing how a block had to
be adjusted, the senders looked at different LEDs - low frequency for
rotation & high frequency for no rotation.
This triggered different intensity of signals in their brains and activated EEG to convert those signals to a message via BrainNet.
BrainNet then transmitted that signal to the receiver.
This triggered different intensity of signals in their brains and activated EEG to convert those signals to a message via BrainNet.
BrainNet then transmitted that signal to the receiver.
Signal receptionHow the receiver perceives the signals?
The receiver wore TMS, which
helped him perceive the signal. The device uses changing magnetic fields
to induce non-lethal electric activity in specific areas of the brain
and is used for treating depression.
However, in this case, it was applied in such a way that the receiver got a sensation of light. This signified the block had to be rotated and triggered accurate reaction.
However, in this case, it was applied in such a way that the receiver got a sensation of light. This signified the block had to be rotated and triggered accurate reaction.
Early daysTechnology still in nascent stage
While the three-way communication
is effective, it is imperative to note that the technology is still in a
nascent stage and requires added intervention.
However, the work does show that TMS and EEG advancement could eventually lead people to transmit more complex information and at a much faster rate.
Not to mention, the possibility could lead to some privacy concerns as well.
However, the work does show that TMS and EEG advancement could eventually lead people to transmit more complex information and at a much faster rate.
Not to mention, the possibility could lead to some privacy concerns as well.
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