Researchers make progress in mind reading
Can humans read detailed human thoughts soon? Not yet, but researchers see potential. However, lying could become more difficult.
Reading thoughts using an Electroencephalogram (EEG) is making progress from the experts' perspective. The content of thoughts cannot be determined with traditional methods using an EEG or other measurements of brain activity, according to Neuroscientist Gyula Kovacs from the University of Jena. The development of modern technologies and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) at least makes it possible to a certain extent.
AI is "the most important development of the last few years for analyzing EEG data," Kovacs further stated. Certain parts of consciousness can be made visible through this. "That was previously absolutely impossible." For example, one can follow whether someone has seen a series or not, or if someone recognizes a person. The ethical question must be raised as to how far this technology should be used at all.
EEG expert Jan Rémi, head of the Epilepsy Center Munich, also stated: "We are still far from thought reading. But I believe that in the next few years, we will be able to determine if someone is lying or not."
EEG signals, with their hundreds and thousands of waves, offer numerous analysis opportunities that could be better evaluated in the future using AI. An EEG records the electrical activity of the brain. The first recording was achieved by psychiatrist Hans Berger in Jena in 1924 - on July 6. Previously, similar recordings had already been successful with animals.
After the advancements in AI and EEG technology, Neuroscientist Gyula Kovacs suggests that while we can't determine the exact content of thoughts yet, we can potentially distinguish between recognizing a person and not, or if someone has seen a sequence. EEG expert Jan Rémi predicts that in the near future, we might be capable of identifying lies based on brain activity.
