(September 22, 2011) Imagine tapping into the mind of a coma
patient, or watching one’s own dream on YouTube. With a cutting-edge blend of
brain imaging and computer simulation, scientists at the University of
California, Berkeley, are bringing these futuristic scenarios within reach.
Using functional Magnetic
Resonance Imaging (fMRI) and computational models, UC Berkeley researchers have
succeeded in decoding and reconstructing people’s dynamic visual experiences –
in this case, watching Hollywood movie trailers.
As yet, the technology can only
reconstruct movie clips people have already viewed. However, the breakthrough
paves the way for reproducing the movies inside our heads that no one else
sees, such as dreams and memories, according to researchers.