Comments on: Neuroscience: the mind reader

By: Vern Westgate

Vern Westgate — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:44:12 +0000

I have a semi-related question. Persons with ALS (Lou Gherig’s disease), who choose to go on ventilators when their breathing fails, still have brain function. But many loss all other functions by which to communicate. Would this technology give them the ability to communicate, as it were, telepathically?

By: Christian Gehman

Christian Gehman — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:02:18 +0000

Try reading the patients fiction and poetry, see if those sympathetic areas light up in response to a story. If there’s any thought going on, the story could be about someone who opened a red door (lion) or a blue door (meadow with cows). The red door could be labeled Yes, the blue door no. If the brain scans show different function for red and blue door, this might indicate that communication is possible.

By: qwerty_jones

qwerty_jones — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 16:44:59 +0000

Actually Terri Schiavo’s brain atrophied to half the size of what it should have been, but still far larger than a walnut.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terri_Schiavo_case

One could potentially live with that. Medical history is full of miracles. When I was a medical student I remember a professor telling in a lecture that there once was a dancer without a cerebellum, although I cannot find a source now. (A cerebellum is responsible for controlling movement.) In any case sometimes people recover from most grave injuries. Although usually and sadly they don’t.

In Terri Schiavo’s case the autopsy later showed that apparently all pyramidal neurons were gone.

It is possible she would not have been able to communicate at all. Or conversely she might have confirmed that she agrees with her husband. My point is, had this technology been available then millions of dollars may not have been spent on litigation. And much anguish could have been spared to her parents and other parties involved.

By: Jack

Jack — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 04:31:06 +0000

Frustrating (and terrifying too) for a vegetative person to consciously hear someone else declaring him/her unscious.
Wonderful experiment though.

By: Editor

Editor — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 01:54:49 +0000

Source?

By: Dennis R.

Dennis R. — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 00:55:54 +0000

Terri Schiavo might have confirmed what her husband said– that she didn’t want to live in a vegetative state.

Being able to infer consciousness of and communication with someone by measuring their brain waves seems ground-breaking. But will their brain functions improve, stay the same, or decline with continued stimulation? It’s an area for further study, granted. But consider that Owen says he believes only 20% of people in what has been called a vegetative state are capable of communicating. What does he base this belief on?

To my way of thinking, brain activity in someone who can’t speak, eat, move, or communicate without external aid still seems akin to a vegetative state. At what point do the recipients of such treatment get to decide that too? When and how often will they be asked if they want their lives to end? Will they have the right to make such a choice? Can we trust the interpreters of their brain activity to give honest answers? Who gets to play god in such situations? Our lawmakers? Is questions of ethics, whose ethics will “rule?”

By: Sno

Sno — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 23:29:11 +0000

I totally agree with the idea that consciousness isn’t a binary thing. You really just need to look around you to know that.

By: St. Abyssal

St. Abyssal — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:56:52 +0000

Terri Schiavo’s brain had atrophied to the size of a walnut. She was already dead before they “starved” her.

By: Marcos Marin

Marcos Marin — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 18:35:07 +0000

Why those geniuses don’t simply ask the subject NOT TO imagine playing tennis?! This would completely destroy the other genius’ psychologist argument… they should consult with the nlp crowd, if with smarts like this they can already ask simple yes/no questions, richard blander would make them sing! hahaha

By: qwerty_jones

qwerty_jones — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:54:00 +0000

If that technology had been around a couple of years ago they could have asked Terri Schiavo what she thought as they starved her to death.

The criticism seems to be coming from the utilitarian camp who are eager to switch off as many patients as possible, as quickly as possible.

With the Singularity being a distinct possibility within our lifetimes, this utilitarian stance is no longer valid or acceptable.

By: Bri

Bri — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:33:30 +0000

When we are asleep, the brain is still processing information. That’s how you can react to a loud noise. When you see someone in rem sleep, try talking gently to them. I used to get a kick out of doing that in my high school years. The person sleeping will often babble incoherently. When they wake they don’t remember a thing! The brains awake, but they’re not home.