6 ms·
Cool results. Just want to point out that there's a time lag between "thoughts" and the appearance of a signal through fMRI, which explains why the image needed
by paulsutter 9y ago
Cool results. Just want to point out that there's a time lag between "thoughts" and the appearance of a signal through fMRI, which explains why the image needed to be imagined for a long period of time (8 seconds).
Most thoughts are more fleeting than this, and couldn't be read with fMRI. So there's no need to get /too/ concerned about the privacy of our thoughts. Not yet :)
> Each imagery block consisted of a 4-s cue period, an 8-s imagery period, a 3-s evaluation period and a 1-s rest period.
- jcims 9y agoStrap someone to a gurney and you have all the time in the world. Would an fMRI require a search warrant?
- anigbrowl 9y agoYou can't make them hold the image in their head for you to pick it out, though.
- laretluval 9y agoYou'd also need to make them keep their head very still.
- red75prime 9y agoThere are substances that block voluntary muscle movements. Pancuronium bromide, for example.
- TeMPOraL 9y agoDon't think of the pink elephant.
- v_lisivka 9y agoI can't imagine pictures in my head, so regardless of how long I will think about pink elephant, you will see nothing.
- anigbrowl 9y agoOK. I'll just think about something else. I don't know why people think tricks like this work on anyone but the extremely simple-minded.
- aninhumer 9y agoI don't know how your brain works, but for most people just hearing/reading the words "pink elephant" will cause their System 1 to immediately bring that concept into their consciousness. This isn't "simple minded" it's just how brains work, and the alternative of having to actively think about a word to remember what it means, would be much slower.