Scientists can now map dreams...

[Shinx3000]

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...sts-develop-software-that-can-map-dreams.html

A team of Japanese scientists have created a device that enables the processing and imaging of thoughts and dreams as experienced in the brain to appear on a computer screen.

While researchers have so far only created technology that can reproduce simple images from the brain, the discovery paves the way for the ability to unlock people's dreams and other brain processes.

A spokesman at ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories said: "It was the first time in the world that it was possible to visualise what people see directly from the brain activity.

"By applying this technology, it may become possible to record and replay subjective images that people perceive like dreams." The scientists, lead by chief researcher Yukiyaso Kamitani, focused on the image recognition procedures in the retina of the human eye.

It is while looking at an object that the eye's retina is able to recognise an image, which is subsequently converted into electrical signals sent into the brain's visual cortex.

The research investigated how electrical signals are captured and reconstructed into images, according to the study, which will be published in the US journal Neuron.

As part of the experiment, researchers showed testers the six letters of the word "neuron", before using the technology to measure their brain activity and subsequently reconstruct the letters on a computer screen.

Since Sigmund Freud published The Interpretations of Dreams over a century ago, the workings of the sleeping human mind have been the source of extensive analysis by scientists keen to unlock its mysteries.

Dreams were the focus of a scientific survey conducted by the Telegraph last year in which it was concluded that dreams were more likely to be shaped by events of the past week than childhood traumas.

I found this a little interesting, but I am not sure about the idea of people seeing whats in my dreams, although, it would be cool to see images of what your dreaming, even if its just simple images.

 

[Silverwynde]

This technology would be great if you wanted to "re-see" dreams that you've forgotten upon awakening, but otherwise I don't know if I'd want to try it. I'm not too keen on the idea of other people seeing what I've dreamed about the night before. I'd rather that stuff remain private.

 

[The Pig King]

What would be amazing would be dream DVD players, or something. The ability to control what you dream. But that's very, very far off.

 

[Hyatt]

It'd be insane if I could actually screencapture significant dreams because I already write logs on my dreams.

Oh gosh, this is just too incredibly awesome! I hope one day I can try this device out. This isn't just awesome. This is Shinji-awesome

 

[bell02+]

I know I'd love it, my dreams are often really entertaining... but then they are very complex as well so I'm not sure how it'll work out.

 

[I Started A Cult]

I always have such weird dreams. I hope this technology improves.

 

[The Outrage]

First thought: My dreams could be sold as porn.... Pokémon RSE's Devon Corporation...

 

[Elementary Penguin]

The world wouldn't care of my random stuff.
I can't even follow my own dreams.
While I'm in them!

 

[Lil Brother]

That would be beyond cool to be able to see dreams. I was just thinking this morning how annoying it was that we lack the ability to press the record button on our dreams.

I wonder how close we're getting to mind-reading technology here? XD

 

[Hyasynth]

I want it.
I'll say it a second time for emphasis.

I WANT IT.

I've been wanting a device like this ever since I was what, 6?
I have some pretty insane dreams that I'd like to view again every so often.

I really hope this sort of technology improves further.

 

[Æsahættr]

The ability to control what you dream. But that's very, very far off.

All humans have that ability already. Look up Lucid Dreaming. It's a state where your body is in a sleep state, but your mind (not your brain) is completely awake.

It takes months and even years of practice, but when perfected, one can often control their surroundings and the events of their dream. When a person dreams normally, they make subconscious choices about what they do. In a lucid dream, you are actively choosing what to do, completely with the knowledge that you are in a dream.

I was really into trying it a lot in high school, but I only managed it once. The hardest thing to do is maintain a dream once you realise you're in one. Your mind switches into that awake state so suddenly that it often wakes up your body, too. There are various methods to trigger lucidity in a dream, but mine was accidental.

I can't remember most of it, except I was outside an information building in the next town north of where I am. Once I realised it was a dream, I managed a few (extremely labourous) steps around on the grass before waking up.

On topic with the dream-mapping, though, I'd say it's a long way off for personal use. Once this device becomes more accurate, however, I'd say it would be perfect for psychologists and therapists, to be able to clearly see what may be troubling a patient in their dreams.

One problem I can see, though, is the patient having dreams that could possibly disturb the practitioner as well as themselves when viewed.

EDIT: Forgot to add:

I want it.
I'll say it a second time for emphasis.

I WANT IT.

QFT. I have awesomely fun dreams.

 

[Jeff]

Interesting, though I personally feel that dreams should be private.

I don't buy into the whole lucid dreaming thing. The problem is that as soon as your brain realizes you're dreaming, it will immediately stop interpreting the signals going on inside of it, and the next thing you know, you're either in another dream or awake. I've had dreams before that I thought were lucid. I would realize I was dreaming and then start controlling my dream, but now I realize that my subconscious was really in control. I'm guessing that it was because I was thinking about controlling my dreams during the day, and thus ended up dreaming about what I was thinking about earlier that day. Of course, maybe I'm just skeptical because in my earliest research on lucid dreaming I stumbled across a website where someone said that it helps to put different kinds of stones under your pillow. That obviously set my BSometer off.

 

[domesticshorthair]

All humans have that ability already. Look up Lucid Dreaming. It's a state where your body is in a sleep state, but your mind (not your brain) is completely awake.

It takes months and even years of practice, but when perfected, one can often control their surroundings and the events of their dream. When a person dreams normally, they make subconscious choices about what they do. In a lucid dream, you are actively choosing what to do, completely with the knowledge that you are in a dream.

I was really into trying it a lot in high school, but I only managed it once. The hardest thing to do is maintain a dream once you realise you're in one. Your mind switches into that awake state so suddenly that it often wakes up your body, too. There are various methods to trigger lucidity in a dream, but mine was accidental.

Where did you find those techniques. I'd like to try them, see if they work for me.

I don't know if I'd actually want anyone else looking at my dreams. If it's something you can have at home, and use it just to review your own dreams, I'd go for it. Though that's what I keep a dream diary for, sometimes just from reading what I wrote months ago, I can remember the dream. Parts of it, anyway. But if it's at a lab, no.

 

[Jorah]

It'd be insane if I could actually screencapture significant dreams because I already write logs on my dreams.

Oh gosh, this is just too incredibly awesome! I hope one day I can try this device out. This isn't just awesome. This is Shinji-awesome

Yeah, I'd love to be able to try it out ^^ Perhaps one day everyone will be able to record their dreams to be able to watch another time. Although, some dreams I don't think I would like others to see heh. I think in the mean time, I should start a dream diary haha

 

[Mitchman]

YAY! Now i can have oodles and oodles of dvd's where i am with all the hot girls in school in a hottub. Not want as well imagine my mom watching my dreams XD
Anyway i would want it as i have dreams of the future and i can use it to interpret where and when this event would happen. Also i would love it as well i also dream about future pokemon sutff and well that would sell a lot lol new pokemon! In my dreams.

 

[ImJessieTR]

If they can get my head to stop this dream loop crap I've been having over the last few days, I'll be happy. Why am I waking up, dreaming, waking up, dreaming ... only to discover hours later that I never woke up in the first place? It's getting ridiculous.

Anyway, I'd be embarrassed if they could see my dreams ... but I'd also be REALLY impressed, as my dreams tend to be complex.

A good way to work on lucid dreaming, not that I'm looking at an article or anything, this is just my personal experience since I can do it quite often ... is to learn to "stop and smell the roses" more in the real world. When you start paying attention to detail in real life, the skill will slide over into the dream world. Your neurons work the same way in both cases. True, you can't fly in the real world (and if you can, let me know how you pulled that off), but you CAN learn to take charge and exploit your surroundings. If you've been having dreams/nightmares that have been bothering you, daydream about solutions while awake, and your brain will continue processing on it when you go back to sleep.