[imagesource:vitore/deviantart]

Scientists in Japan claim to have invented a ‘dream reading machine’ that can record the weird and wonderful world of dreams and replaying your subconscious misbehaving in stunning video sequences.

Using a modified MRI machine, researchers were able to identify specific brain activity patterns occurring while people dreamed about different scenarios like flying or seeing loved ones.

The MRI scanner then analyses the patterns through computer algorithms, creating images that represent the ‘visuals’ one experiences during dreams.

Their findings revealed that our brains respond similarly to visual stimuli whether we are awake or asleep. This means that it’s possible to decode dreams using functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines which detect changes in blood flow within the brain.

The device then “harnesses the power of deep learning and neural networks to bridge the gap between the subjective experience of dreams and objective visual representation”.

The technology is still in it’s ‘beta phase’, but scientists and psychologists are super excited about the possibilities this device could have for delving into our subconscious minds where all the really weird stuff happens. According to the researchers, the device could lead to breakthroughs in working with individuals suffering from nightmares or PTSD and could lead to a better understanding of their subconscious thoughts and emotions.

As with any new tech, there are limitations to this technology as not every aspect of our dreams can be precisely determined through imaging alone. There’s a lot of feels in a dream.

The device may sound like a fun experiment, but already some have raised “ethical considerations around using such technology for commercial purposes”.

The idea of recording what goes on in our dream world is not new, and as far back as 1999, there have already been imaging techniques that could ‘record’ visuals from our dreams by correlating brainwave activity with images using algorithms specifically tuned to the scans. The results were astonishing, and more than a little creepy.

Technology like this may one day be able to help us capture our deepest subconscious desires, and fears, as a ‘home movie’. The question however needs to be asked whether the realm of our dreams is better left in the dark.

There’s some truly weird stuff that happens in our nocturnal cinema-of-the-mind that should never be captured on film. Laat slapende honde lê.

[source:news24online&weirdwideweb]