7 comments

  • trocado 6 minutes ago
    "Mental content" seems way to broad for what is rather the sensorimotor part of speech.
  • dr_dshiv 2 hours ago
    I have a PhD student working on EEG audio decoding. We are presently focused on a simpler subtopic: the detection of consonance and dissonance in the brain as it listens to music.
  • vlovich123 2 hours ago
    Prediction: even if this requires surgery, unlocking inner thought will be used in criminal proceedings to establish guilt or attempt to be used to prove innocence. It will definitely be used unethically in military/intelligence interrogations until the law catches up.
    • ksaj 1 hour ago
      I'm not sure if this would be able to detect the difference between truthful thoughts about actual memories, and intrusive thoughts that could give the entirely wrong impression.

      Yet, they still do use lie detectors, even though the things they detect can be faked, or triggered out of personal alarm or offense. So it is entirely possible, regardless.

    • red75prime 2 hours ago
      "Hit him with this $5 wrench until he tells us the password" XKCD 538
      • devmor 1 hour ago
        We normally do not accept people being hit with wrenches (or a contextual contemporary) in criminal justice trials.
        • red75prime 58 minutes ago
          I don't think that the brain surgery is accepted as well.
    • pmontra 47 minutes ago
      My first dystopic thought was immigration counters at airports /s
  • ksaj 1 hour ago
    They don't seem to mention if it is elective. An all or nothing mechanism might spell out words that the patient really didn't intend on others seeing (like "Ugh, that guy again! I can't stand the way he...")

    It is pretty difficult to control your inner dialog against spontaneous and triggered thoughts.

    • Tade0 7 minutes ago
      I wanted to comment this HN entry with "people with intrusive thoughts sweating profusely" or something similar, but in truth are there people with no intrusive thoughts whatsoever?

      I for one don't fight them, regardless how horrible they would be spoken out aloud, because so far I haven't seen any evidence of anyone reading my mind.

      I also made a point of explaining to my child that her thoughts are hers and hers alone, so she can think whatever she likes.

      I would rather not have to backtrack on any of this.

  • shablulman 2 hours ago
    [dead]