3 ms·

I think that it's also the other way around: Functional Mri(fmri) is currently,maybe the best brain diagnostic device we have, by far. We've done some crazy shi

by petra 10y ago

I think that it's also the other way around: Functional Mri(fmri) is currently,maybe the best brain diagnostic device we have, by far. We've done some crazy shit(at the early research stage) with it,like reading dreams, treating depression/anxiety, increasing empathy, and training people to achieve very deep meditative states, which takes mediators decades of training. But Fmri is extremely expensive and unaccesible, even to researchers. Just think of a few min. mri test costs hundreds/thousands - while for fmri neurofeedback training you probably needs some tens of hours, per person, and a minimum of tens of people, at least, for statistically meaningful research. But recently, Mary Lou Jepsen has started working on a $100, personal, wearable(?) fmri device. This could be the equivalent, in a few years, to jumping from mainframes to the iPhone. So if you're in Musk/Zuckerberg's place, if this explodes, it would be kind of nice to be in the field.

skummetmaelk 10y ago
There are many criticisms of the effectiveness of using fMRI to tease out brain function. It measures blood flow as a proxy for neural activity in a region, but this is not necessarily accurate. It depends heavily on many other factors.
- petra 10y ago
  Is there some measurement modality that is more accurate/better that doesn't require physical access inside a person's brain or using meds etc ? because i don't think those are realistic for non-medical uses.
  - skummetmaelk 10y ago
    Unfortunately no. Nevertheless, fMRI is unsuitable for what Neuralink is trying to accomplish. It would be lile trying to communicate by wiggling your ears. Possible, but slow.
    - petra 10y ago
      As a general purpose goal, beyond helping people with the most severe disabilities , This doesn't seem like that useful of a goal(especially compared to other possibilities) , why is there such fascination about direct brain communication, even among really smart people ?

by petra 10y ago

skummetmaelk 10y ago

There are many criticisms of the effectiveness of using fMRI to tease out brain function. It measures blood flow as a proxy for neural activity in a region, but this is not necessarily accurate. It depends heavily on many other factors.

petra 10y ago
Is there some measurement modality that is more accurate/better that doesn't require physical access inside a person's brain or using meds etc ? because i don't think those are realistic for non-medical uses.
- skummetmaelk 10y ago
  Unfortunately no. Nevertheless, fMRI is unsuitable for what Neuralink is trying to accomplish. It would be lile trying to communicate by wiggling your ears. Possible, but slow.
  - petra 10y ago
    As a general purpose goal, beyond helping people with the most severe disabilities , This doesn't seem like that useful of a goal(especially compared to other possibilities) , why is there such fascination about direct brain communication, even among really smart people ?