A thought recording and reproduction device refers to any machine which is able to both directly record and reproduce, via a
brain-computer interface, the thoughts, emotions, dreams or other neural/cognitive events of a subject for that or other subjects to experience. While currently residing within mostly fictional displays of the capacity of such devices, the idea has received increased scientific currency since the development of the first BCI-enabled devices.
The term ''oneirography'', referring to the recording of dreams, is also a synonym for the above.
Fiction
This hypothetical technology is a key element in some of the early short stories of
William Gibson
William Ford Gibson (born March 17, 1948) is an American-Canadian speculative fiction writer and essayist widely credited with pioneering the science fiction subgenre known as cyberpunk. Beginning his writing career in the late 1970s, his ear ...
, including his 1977 debut
Fragments of a Hologram Rose
"Fragments of a Hologram Rose" is a science fiction short story by William Gibson. It was Gibson's first published work, originally appearing in ''Unearth magazine #3'' (June 21, 1977), a short-lived science fiction collection magazine which retail ...
, where it is called ASP (Apparent Sensory Perception). In his
Sprawl trilogy
The Sprawl trilogy (also known as the Neuromancer trilogy) is William Gibson's first set of novels, and is composed of ''Neuromancer'' (1984), ''Count Zero'' (1986), and '' Mona Lisa Overdrive'' (1988).
The novels are all set in the same fictio ...
, it is termed Simstim (Simulation Stimulation), and described as the most popular form of entertainment, perhaps equivalent to 20th century pop music. Whereas most instances depict a heavily edited documentary version, replaying an approximation of the actual experience of the person recorded, in
The Winter Market
"The Winter Market" is a science fiction short story written by William Gibson and published as part of his ''Burning Chrome'' short story collection. The story was commissioned in 1985 by ''Vancouver Magazine'', who stipulated that Gibson – who ...
a version able to record dreams and imaginations exists.
A number of films from the 1980s onwards, such as ''
Brainstorm'' (1983), ''
Until the End of the World'' (1991), ''
Strange Days'' (1995), ''
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' (2001), and ''
Sleep Dealer
''Sleep Dealer'' is a 2008 futuristic science fiction film directed by Alex Rivera.
''Sleep Dealer'' depicts a dystopian future to explore ways in which technology both oppresses and connects migrants. A fortified wall has ended unauthorized Mex ...
'' (2008), depict the technology and its ramifications.
Research
In December 2008,
Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International
The Advanced Party (), otherwise known as the Advanced Association () was a liberal and centrist Zionist political association in Mandatory Palestine founded by several urban liberal Zionists. The party was founded in order to represent the voice ...
's Department of Cognitive Neuroscience announced its own research into the translation of neural signals into images. In addition, Prof.
Moran Cerf
Moran Cerf (; born 1977) is an American-French-Israeli neuroscientist, professor of business (at Columbia University), investor and former white hat hacker.
He is the founder of Think-Alike and B-Cube and the host and curator of PopTech, one of ...
of Caletch published a paper in ''
Nature
Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...
'' where he described work that allowed for the real-time interpretation of thoughts. The research outcome has often been popularized as a device that could record dreams. Prof.
Moran Cerf
Moran Cerf (; born 1977) is an American-French-Israeli neuroscientist, professor of business (at Columbia University), investor and former white hat hacker.
He is the founder of Think-Alike and B-Cube and the host and curator of PopTech, one of ...
discussed the specifics of the work and the theoretical possibilities in various public talks.
Current limitations
BCI devices can currently translate a limited subset of neural signals into digital signals, most of which are utilized for motor-centric controls of attached devices. The translation of images perceived or conceived within the brain has not yet been fully achieved.
See also
*
Mind uploading
Mind uploading is a speculative process of whole brain emulation in which a brain scan is used to completely emulate the mental state of the individual in a digital computer. The computer would then run a simulation of the brain's information ...
*
Neuralink
Neuralink Corp. is an American transhumanist neurotechnology company that has developed, as of 2024, implantable brain–computer interfaces (BCIs), also known as brain implants. It was founded by Elon Musk and a team of eight scientists and ...
*
Oneironautics
Oneironautics () refers to the ability to travel within a dream on a conscious basis. Such a traveler in a dream may be called an oneironaut.
Within one's dream
A lucid dream is one in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming. They are ...
*
TED-talk, February 2016
Moran Cerf: This scientist can hack your dreams
*
Thought identification
In their most common sense, the terms thought and thinking refer to cognitive processes that can happen independently of sensory stimulation. Their most paradigmatic forms are judging, reasoning, concept formation, problem solving, and delibe ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thought Recording And Reproduction Device
Brain–computer interface
Dream