Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Electronic Dream Catcher Records Dreams

 A US researcher says he plans to electronically record and interpret dreams.  Scientists have developed a way to record higher brain activity "We would like to read people's dreams," says the lead scientist Dr Moran Cerf. "The aim is not to interlope, but to extend our understanding of how and why people dream."

For centuries, people have been fascinated by dreams and what they might mean. In Ancient Egypt they were thought to be messages from God.  More recently, dream analysis has been used by psychologists as a tool to understand the unconscious mind. But the only way to interpret dreams is to ask people about the subject of their dreams when they were awake. The eventual aim of Dr Cerf's project is to develop a system which would enable psychologists to corroborate people's recollections of their dream with an electronic visualisation of their brain activity.

"There's no clear answer as to why humans dream," according to Dr Cerf. "And one of the questions we would like to answer is when do we actually create this dream?" Dr Cerf makes his bold claim based on an initial study which he says suggests that the activity of individual brain cells, or neurons, are associated with specific objects or concepts.  He found, for example, that when a volunteer was thinking of Marilyn Monroe, a particular neuron lit up.  By showing volunteers a series of images, Dr Cerf and his colleagues were able to identify neurons for a wide range of objects and concepts - which they used to build up a database for each patient. These included Bill and Hilary Clinton, the Eiffel Tower and celebrities. So by observing which brain cell lit up and when, Dr Cerf says he was effectively able to "read the subjects' minds".

He admits that there is a very long way to go before this simple observation can be translated into a device to record dreams, or dream catcher. But he thinks it is a possibility - and he said he would like to try.
The next stage is to monitor the brain activity of the volunteers when they are sleeping. In the Nature study, the researchers obtained their results by studying patients who had electrodes implanted to monitor and treat them for brain seizures. But Dr Cerf believes that sensor technology is developing at such a pace that eventually it might be possible to monitor brain activity in this way without invasive surgery. If this were to happen it would open up a range of possibilities.

"It would be wonderful to read people's minds where they cannot communicate, such as people in comas," said Dr Cerf. There have been attempts to create machine interfaces before that aim to translate thoughts into instructions to control computers or machines.  But in the main these have tried to tap into areas of the brain involved in controlling movement. Dr Cerf's system monitors higher level areas of the brain and can potentially identify abstract concepts.

"We can sail with our imaginations and think about all the things we could do if we had access to a person's brain and basically visualise their thoughts. "For example, instead of just having to write an email you could just think it. Or another futuristic application would be to think a flow of information and have it written in front of your eyes."

82 comments:

  1. Hi PIC.How's it going?

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  2. Anonymous10:00:00 PM

    Hi cutie....everything fine how are you.

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  3. Good. So soon they will be able to read our minds. I don't think I like that.

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  4. Anonymous10:04:00 PM

    Someone gave me a dream catcher for Xmas and I sold it at the yard
    sale.
    Dad told me to tell you he left you a love note on the Jon Stewart man of the year post and Mj's post, that man was busy today.

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  5. Anonymous10:07:00 PM

    They would go crazy from madness they find in my mind...sometime I don't understand it myself.

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  6. Anonymous10:08:00 PM

    How is Nana ? Did Brian over do it today, I hope not ?

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  7. This dream catcher is a computer and it has the capability in the near future of reading our minds. I prefer the old fashioned Indian made kind more.The kids have given me a few over the years.
    A few of our relatives in England asked me to send them some. They can't get them there.I mostly see them in the garbage here.That's where mine went eventually.

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  8. My mind is a jumble of odd thoughts. I don't think anyone would like to be examined that closely.

    The main application would be disabled people I guess.

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  9. Anonymous10:12:00 PM

    Thankyou for editing the post and the video really made it stand out.
    Have you notice how much more space stories is in the news?

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  10. Is your' Devil's night' the night before Halloween? Or don't you have it down there in the swamp?

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  11. It's the night the kids play tricks all over the neighborhood. The teens do things like wrap all your shrubbery in toilet paper. That was one of my favorites when I was a kid.

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  12. Anonymous10:18:00 PM

    I have to go to a Black & White Ball tomorrow night and NAN said did you want to chat with her tomorrow, she says she will be on later to asked you .
    A lady got hit on the interstate last night and the car cut her in half.

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  13. Yes , you are right. It is in the news daily.
    Big tsunami and volcanic eruptions in Indonesian.

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  14. I am turning off the news. It's all bad. I am going to watch Fright Night. They have been showing horror movies all week. Not so depressing.

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  15. Anonymous10:22:00 PM

    Yes we have the same Devil night,it was one of my favorites, I counted how many kids we had on the compound so I would how much candy to buy...we have 19 kids 16 and under...and we will get some outsiders .

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  16. I'd love to talk to Nan. What do you dress up as at a black and white ball?

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  17. My gosh, that would be horrible, especially if you stayed alive for a minute and saw your other half down the road a bit.

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  18. Anonymous10:25:00 PM

    I'm watching Chiller's all they show is horror movies and SyFy shows the same kind of movies.

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  19. It'll be hard to control your four from stuffing themselves full of candy. How do you do it?

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  20. Anonymous10:30:00 PM

    Men wear black suit/tie and white shirt and the ladies wear their little black cock-tail dresses, just a bunch of lawyers men/women trying to out lie the other .
    NAN will be here soon as she get aunt Mae down for the count.

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  21. Anonymous10:34:00 PM

    I don't know , when it come to candy they are some sneaky little devils.
    I will put diapers on them for school so they won't shit on everybody.
    If you find a parent that has the secret please let me know.

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  22. Anonymous10:40:00 PM

    Jeannie,
    I made it and boy what fun Mae is when she get full of her booze.Mae is a lovable old gal and a lot of fun.
    I told Nee to ask you if you wanted to chat with me tomorrow.
    Big G. just told me to tell you he left some letters for you on Starhooks.

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  23. I hope you have a nice time at the ball.Just remember to leave before midnight or your car will turn into a pumpkin and your glass slipper will fall of and Gil will turn into a mouse.

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  24. Anonymous10:42:00 PM

    [gigles] I would had to change more than my underwear, I would have been like my Jakey when he was a baby...running and shit flying.Hahaha

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  25. Anonymous10:45:00 PM

    I am babysitting at Nee's house and she better come home early because I not only have to keep her four I have to keep Big G. and he is a pain in the butt and musty butt knows it but he is a daring.

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  26. Thanks Nan, I got the notes. So aunt Mae likes her booze,eh?...HA!
    I would love to chat tomorrow while Nee goes to the ball.

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  27. You mean her five kids. I guess the big one can be demanding too.

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  28. Anonymous10:50:00 PM

    Well I will go trick or treating with Jakey and he will give me all his chocolates...

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  29. Jakey will never have a problem with constipation. He never walked before he got sick, he ran everywhere. You couldn't catch the little imp.

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  30. Anonymous10:52:00 PM

    I have another post I want you to edit and post for me please...it's about a painting very old and worth maybe $100,000...a lot of painting being found lately.

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  31. Nan, will you go out with your grandkids on Halloween?

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  32. Yeah, I noticed that a lot of paintings are being found. I have done two posts about it.
    I guess some people don't clean their attics but once every century or two.

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  33. Anonymous10:58:00 PM

    Jeannie
    I will say goodnight and talk you tomorrow, Big G. and Mae is at it he says he's going home and wants him to stay and he just told her they will lock him out by 11:15 .
    See you around 10:pm .
    Nan

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  34. That guy has two homes. What a character. I bet Mae is too. See you tomorrow Nan. Have a good night.

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  35. Anonymous11:02:00 PM

    We better start going to these estate sales we may get lucky. We are going to Reno on the kids spring break ..Dad has a lot of old stuff there he says Rosa left the house and all the contents to Gil.

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  36. Yes I will edit and post for you.

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  37. We have provincial elections up here right now. Boy those politicians really slam each other. They insult each other. I don't think it's very ethical.

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  38. Anonymous11:06:00 PM

    NAN must have logged off before she seen your question , she will take brown baby he's beginning to walk I told her to but him in his stroller .

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  39. You will have fun going through the Reno house. Rosa may have had some antiques from the old country.

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  40. Anonymous11:12:00 PM

    We are having one here Nov.2 and it's bad how they act and wants to be leaders...I really don't trust any of them, they make promises they don't keep.
    It's just like this ball I'm going to the biggest lier gets the award ...but they can't talk about each other and I will say Gil won about three years ago.
    I ask him was he going for it this year ...he could tell the truth about his family and they would think he was lying...but you can't talk about people you know. They have to be make believe.

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  41. Who could be better liars than lawyers? What fun that must be. I bet Gil is proud of that award.

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  42. Anonymous11:16:00 PM

    Brown baby is cute the girls gave him his name . Did I ever tell you what Sha did when Jill was about 5/6 months old.

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  43. I'm afraid I don't trust any politicians. They are a nasty breed.

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  44. Anonymous11:19:00 PM

    Yes he is they give out 3 each year and he's working on his and he says he's bring one home,I will let you know.

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  45. I never heard about what Sha Did.

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  46. Anonymous11:26:00 PM

    I don't want my man in public office , it's a breeding grown for filth, I don't think your are as bad as ours most here in Louisiana is corrupt and it didn't just start. and N.O. is the worst . Shreveport is not far behind.

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  47. A lot of lawyers go into public office. Their background is an asset to their political career. Has Gil ever shown interest?

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  48. Anonymous11:30:00 PM

    We have a lot of Hyundai commericals here on 5/6 stations and CBS have the most, Dan has a 2005, he traded his 1994 in on it and says he would have no other car.

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  49. Anonymous11:33:00 PM

    I breast fed Jill and Sha would watch her and kiss her when she nursed , I wore nursing bras and Sha got on the couch and she got the other one and there I was with 2 babies hung on me.

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  50. Anonymous11:37:00 PM

    I don't know what Rosa has but I know Dad got most of his grandparents stuff from the old country as he say, Dad's father was first generation born here so my babies is 4th generations.

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  51. Oh that is so cute. She would have felt so rejected if you had stopped her. I think one of the reasons those girls get along so well is that they feel they share you equally.

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  52. Anonymous11:45:00 PM

    Gil was on some type of office in Reno and Glover wanted him to run for some office here ha said thinks but no thanks, he said Reno was enough , you are not your own man and there's two many bosses..
    To tell the truth, Gil would probaby get impeach after a couple of weeks or before . He likes to have things his way.
    He said Obama was a good man and working for the best interest of the country but America is not ready for a black president . He says Obama should go in gangster mode and scare the shit out of the damn racist bastards.

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  53. You might be able to mix a few of the antiques from the old country with your modern stuff. It works very well.I love that look.

    Some of those pieces should be saved for Jill and Gilly as part of their heritage.But I gotta say that some Italian furniture is just plain ugly.I happen to know you have good taste so you'll weed out the bad stuff.

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  54. Anonymous11:46:00 PM

    What's wrong with Craig , is he drinking again?

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  55. Amen to that GIL. I agree with him. The US was not ready for a black man or a woman president. A woman would have taken a beating too from the public, once she was in office.
    In a world poll the USA came 27th in the world in treating their women as equals in every way. Finland was mumber one. Canada was 5th or 6th.

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  56. Anonymous11:53:00 PM

    We are going up there on spring break and I hope everyone is healthy and I could fly you/Brian and maybe the twins out there and we could look and see what we want.
    He has some from the old country, I have all Rosa's jewelery and Dad really bought her some beautiful pieces and Gil marriage me with her rings, he asked me did I want a new setting and I told him no I have a plain band I wear my right hand.

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  57. Craig is a little off the wall tonight.

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  58. Anonymous12:01:00 AM

    We have the nerve to say we are leaders, we could learn a lot from Canada such as health care hot to treat our women...I am surprise we are not at the bottom of the list.

    We told Sha Jill was her baby like we told Jill about Gilly and let her listen at her heart beat and rub my belly.

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  59. You wore his mama's rings without changing them. I think that is a beautiful gesture.

    As for your generous offer, you just brought tears to my eyes. I treasure the fact that you think that well of me but I could not accept such gifts.But I thank you from my heart.

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  60. Be thankful that Gil does not have political aspirations. From all I have read it's so hard on the families.You live in a fishbowl and the wife is always on display. You can't relax and sit around in your underwear.You'd never be allowed to fart again or burp.

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  61. Anonymous12:11:00 AM

    There are three people staying on the estate to keep it up.
    We are still thinking about turning it into a women shelter, Gil says not right now . I have a lot of irons in the fire and he wanted me to get each one under control before I start another one, it was going to take a little time to get the charter fot my bears and people in place and it had to be worked out carefully and voted on.

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  62. I always wondered what the queen did when she felt some gas coming. She must have amazing sphincter muscles.

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  63. Anonymous12:16:00 AM

    I love you and we will see each one day and cry together.
    I don't say things just to say them I meant it from the heart...who knows what the future holds for all of us.

    Tell me, why in hell did you think I wanted to keep up with you...HUH?

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  64. Your environmental organization is going to grow in leaps and bounds. Gil is right, you musn't take on too much.I know it requires a lot of work to organize such a group.Plus you have a big family to care for and being a hostess for Gil and a CEO for the company.You don't need another project right now. The house will be there in five years or ten.

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  65. Anonymous12:20:00 AM

    The Queen can fart anywhere she wants too, her subjects will just run to her and say let me smell.
    Queen Elizabeth is very much loved.

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  66. Anonymous12:21:00 AM

    I love to hear the Queen talk, that's why I going to call you soon to listen and giggle at you.

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  67. I feel close to you also. Dad tells me that you are getting headaches and you meditate. Also you are getting visions or revelations. Are they related to the headaches? And does the meditation help the headaches.

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  68. Anonymous12:29:00 AM

    Being a CEO is my least worry, Gil is going to fix what I say .
    Sweetie the olny thing Gil really wants to do is make his dad's last years happy and if they are not careful he will sell all dad's shares to CC and aunt Mae's too.
    NAN and I will hang on to ours , we bought some when it was Hollywood, NAN got a great deal when she retired.

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  69. You should get some rest Sweetie. I'm sorry I kept you up late again.

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  70. It's a good idea to hang onto your shares. You and Nan may be needed one day to swing a vote with the shares.

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  71. And by the way, retirement suits dad to a tee. He is having fun, the time of his life. He said he was happy to get away from the business.

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  72. Anonymous12:38:00 AM

    The visions have come back , but they are not clear , meditation do help and they come and go.
    Sis told me she talked to Mrs. Hattie and she wanted to see me because it was time she past on to me what my mama left..
    Sweetie I heard that my mama and Mrs. Hattie knew things and I inherit it from my mama , I had a vail or something over my face when I was born...It's been coming on for about 2/3 months now.

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  73. And get a damn housekeeper... and a maid. You need a break.
    If your headaches are stress related in any way, you gotta fix that.

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  74. Anonymous12:39:00 AM

    Dad says my whole family is got -damn weird .

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  75. In Britain they say that a child born with a caul over it's head has the second sight. I guess that legend is pretty much worldwide.

    They usually keep the caul for good luck. I wonder if your mama kept yours.
    Hattie is very old. I guess you'll be going to see her while there's time.

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  76. Anonymous12:46:00 AM

    No stress ,it has happen before I thought they was gone.
    You don't keep me up time just gets awat from me and you won't let me have a clock, one on the PC but I forgets about it.

    I haven't been stressed out since Dad told Gil to come home if he wanted his family and he was here fast , and Shrirley wouldn't help Dad and I think he still mad about that .
    I will get some help soon.
    Dad and Gilly still get their sweets and hot bread.

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  77. Hattie may be able to tell you how to bring in the visions clearer.She is obviously very wise. Now you get to bed honey. You need your sleep.

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  78. Dad has been hurt by several members of his family. I think deep down it still hurts and always will.

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  79. Anonymous12:53:00 AM

    Sis has it and it's in a vase where she keeps it stored away and I asked her wasn't it rotten and she said she didn't know. I will be going to see Mrs. Hattie she has something to give me and tell me all concerns my mama, Sis says my mama told her to give it to her baby when the time was right.
    She has family here .

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  80. Anonymous12:55:00 AM

    Sweetie , I will say goodnight , it's 2:am your time.
    Have a good time with NAN and I will see you Friday.

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  81. Goodnight sweetie have fun tomorrow night. sleep well
    LUV...PIC

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  82. Anonymous1:00:00 AM

    I know it hurts but Dad is a tough old bird and they are the ones that will suffer ...Rosa's family thinks the world of him and come to see him about 3/4 times a year.
    Gil says he is going to make they pay dearly .
    Sweetie goodnight and pleasent dreams and I will see you at the old mill pond.
    GOODNITE...HUGS & KISSES...PIC
    Kiss the Rock.

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