Memory reading technology could help brain injury patientsRSS Feed

A new machine designed to record memories could lead the way for technology which will be able to record our dreams, say scientists.

Experiments, during which volunteers had electrodes inserted into the brain, enabled researchers to see what the participants were thinking, according to Dr Moran Cerf.

Participants were shown 100 pictures of familiar images. Pictures that triggered neurons in different parts of the medial temporal lobe - associated with memory and retention - were chosen.

Two of these images were shown to each patient and they were told to choose one of them to focus on.

The electrodes recorded the activity of neurones in the medial temporal lobe and the results showed that over two-thirds of subjects made their chosen image visible through a decoder.

Dr Cerf explained that the study, published in the journal Nature, gives hope of the possibility of being able to read dreams to help people with conditions such as brain injury.

He said: 'We would like to read people's dreams. It would be wonderful to read people's minds when they cannot communicate, such as people in comas.'

This news comes after scientists at Griffith University discovered that the olfactory organ in the nose can be used to further stem cell brain research.

News brought to you by Serious Law specialists in traumatic brain injury

Posted by Timothy Walters
 

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