From: rdees@umiami.ir.miami.edu (Matthion)
Subject: Re: Ultimate input hardware
Date: 8 Feb 91 16:49:12 EST
Message-ID: <1991Feb8.164913.7787@umiami.ir.miami.edu>
Organization: Univ of Miami IR



In article <1991Feb6.183330.8154@agate.berkeley.edu>, doug@eris.berkeley.edu
(Doug Merritt) writes:

> 
> ...
>
> The Feb. Scientific American article by Freeman about strange attractors,
> and unique EEG amplitude maps in response to recognition of sensory
> perceptions, makes me wonder if it might now be possible to sense a
> broad enough array of natural data from the brain to use as an effective
> input device. For example, if we could deduce from an EEG of the motor
> cortex that the user was visualizing a clenched fist, that could be
> used as a "grasp object" command, without even needing a data glove.
>
> ... 
> 
> Anyone know about this? Or know of a summary/survey source on evoked
> potentials and EEG analysis that sums up recent research?
> 
> A similarly interesting possibility is that of using higher-temperature
> superconductors to make SQUID's that could monitor magnetic fields
> on the *interior* of the brain, potentially yielding even more information.
> (EEG's pick up only surface currents, limiting the portions of the
> brain that might be analyzed even in principle.) Any new info there?
>         Doug

First, I should point out that several people (whose opinions I deeply respect)
have come to the conclusion that such direct neural interfaces are possible due
to the intrinsic variability between people.  Although the systems are chaotic
in the sense that as you go higher patterns emerge, attacks at the root level
are still attacks on a random system.

The question phrased differently is: "will we ever be able to detect enough
useful information in the high order signal to effectively get closer to a
person's thoughts?"  This is a very new area of inquiry, we will most likely
have a bit of a wait...

As for looking deeper in the brain, do we want to?  As you descend into the
brain, you move backwards in time, through all the mammals, then reptiles, then
back to species that don't even exist anymore.  Interfacing at these levels
will probably be closer to the low end interfacing I mentioned above, although
as we probe, we will undoubtedly uncover patterns of processing activity there
as well.

So...does anyone out there have some up to date data on evoked potentials?

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