Not so fast folks. These methods may prove useful for specific tasks such as piloting. Yet they are gross methods and otherwise likely dangerous as well.
The truth is that we do not even have true control over out own data and certainly cannot share it with your brain if it desirable. Further i now suspect all date is stored in time and meta linked at best. Transfering such links may be helpful but likely not as it is likely to interfere with ones own networks.
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Otherwise a nice experiment that may lead to something useful..
Scientists discover how to 'upload knowledge to your brain'
Feeding knowledge directly into
your brain, just like in sci-fi classic The Matrix, could soon take as
much effort as falling asleep, scientists believe.
Researchers claim to have developed a simulator which can feed information directly into a person’s brain and teach them new skills in a shorter amount of time, comparing it to “life imitating art”.
They believe it could be the first steps in developing advanced software that will make Matrix-style instant learning a reality.
Researchers claim to have developed a simulator which can feed information directly into a person’s brain and teach them new skills in a shorter amount of time, comparing it to “life imitating art”.
They believe it could be the first steps in developing advanced software that will make Matrix-style instant learning a reality.
In the neo-noir sci-fi classic, protagonist Neo is able to learn kung fu in seconds after the martial art is ‘uploaded’ straight to his brain.
Researchers from HRL Laboratories, based in California, say they have found a way to amplify learning, only on a much smaller scale than seen in the Hollywood film.
They studied the electric signals in the brain of a trained pilot and then fed the data into novice subjects as they learned to pilot an aeroplane in a realistic flight simulator.
The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, found that subjects who received brain stimulation via electrode-embedded head caps improved their piloting abilities and learnt the task 33 per cent better than a placebo group.
“Our system is one of the first of its kind. It's a brain stimulation system,” explained Dr Matthew Phillips.
"It sounds kind of sci-fi, but there's large scientific basis for the development of our system.
"The specific task we were looking at was piloting an aircraft, which requires a synergy of both cognitive and motor performance.
"When you learn something, your brain physically changes. Connections are made and strengthened in a process called neuro-plasticity.
“It turns out that certain functions of the brain, like speech and memory, are located in very specific regions of the brain, about the size of your pinky.”
Dr Matthews believes that brain stimulation could eventually be implemented for tasks like learning to drive, exam preparation and language learning
“What our system does is it actually targets those changes to specific regions of the brain as you learn,” he added.
“The method itself is actually quite old. In fact, the ancient Egyptians 4000 years ago used electric fish to stimulate and reduce pain.
“Even Ben Franklin applied currents to his head, but the rigorous, scientific investigation of these methods started in the early 2000s and we're building on that research to target and personalise a stimulation in the most effective way possible.
“Your brain is going to be very different to my brain when we perform a task. What we found is … brain stimulation seems to be particularly effective at actually improving learning.”
Meanwhile, a recent study found that intelligent people are more easily distracted at work.
What kind of narcissist are you? Take the test.
No, Scientists Have Not Created a Matrix-Like Interface That Instantly Uploads Data to Your Brain
In reality, the new study shows that it may be possible to enhance a person’s existing capacity to learn new skills, but the claim that specific skills or aptitudes can be directly transferred via brain waves is most certainly outside the scope of the findings.
The HRL Labs research team, led by Matthew Phillips, used a neuro-stimulation technique known as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to excite areas in the brain responsible for learning and skill retention. tDCS is a noninvasive, painless technique that uses a constant, low electric current to stimulate specific brain regions. Several studies suggest it could be used to treat neuropsychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, and chronic pain. Some patients have even demonstrated cognitive improvement, but a recent study found no evidence of cognitive effects from tDCS. The new HRL study now challenges this conclusion.
During the experiment, researchers monitored the brain waves of six commercial and military pilots. Afterwards, they transmitted those patterns into 32 novice subjects who were learning to pilot a plane in a flight simulator. Subjects who received tDCS brain stimulation improved their piloting abilities, particularly their landing skills. Those exposed to a placebo showed no such improvement. The finding suggests that tDCS may work to improve, albeit temporarily, a person’s ability to learn. But as noted, it most certainly doesn’t mean that specific types of information were transmitted via the technique.
Mark S. George, a professor of psychiatry, radiology, and neurosciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, and editor-in-chief of the science journal Brain Stimulation, wasn’t impressed.
For one, he told Gizmodo, the results hinge on a “small sample study in vulnerable employees, performed by scientists with patents pending that will be influenced by the outcome.” Not to mention that plenty of small studies have shown results using tDCS, but then can’t be replicated.
“This area is quite controversial, with positive studies getting published more frequently than failed trials, creating a publication bias,” he said. “If there is an effect here in this study, the tDCS merely improved the ability of the subjects to learn. There was no transfer of information through the brain stimulation.”
In their study, the scientists state that “the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest,” while also admitting that several of the study’s co-authors “are listed as inventors in patent applications on brain stimulation methods.” It should also be pointed out that HRL labs does R&D for the Boeing Company and General Motors.
As previously noted, the study was published in a rather dubious science journal. Writing in Popular Mechanics, John Wenz explains:
Frontiers of Human Neuroscience is owned by Frontiers Media, which has had a number of retractions, including a highly controversial retracted psychology study regarding the overlap between conspiracy theorists and climate change deniers. The Human Neuroscience journal also retracted a paper recently; in that one, results about inhibition control were actually due to a computing error. Some open access journal advocates have also questioned Frontier’s publishing methods regarding pay-to-publish. There’s also the basic fact that these areas of neuroscience are at the frontier and in their primitive stages.It’s guilt by association, but the strength of a study can often be gleaned by the quality of the journal it’s published in.
Finally, on the topic of uploading data directly into the brain, it’s highly unlikely that tDCS will ever do the trick. At least not in isolation. Reconfiguring the physical state of neurons to encode for specific engrams, or memories, will require far more than just targeted beams of electric currents. Last month, for example, researchers used a combination of genetics and light delivered by fiber optic cables to alter the memories of mice. The ability to “upload” an entire skill set, whether it be kung fu or piloting an airplane, may eventually happen—but it’s not something we’ll see for quite some time.
Update: We also heard back from Christopher Chambers, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at Cardiff University in the UK. Here’s what he told us via email:
You’re right to be skeptical. Looking at the study itself, the research question is really interesting and the combination of methods is sophisticated. There is limited evidence from previous studies that tDCS can facilitate some forms of learning. That said, the sample size in the current study is so small that the results are, in my opinion, quite meaningless. The researchers divided a total sample of 32 participants into 4 groups, with as few as 7 participants per group. We know that such small samples are prone to generating false discoveries caused by bias and statistical error.
The only conclusion we can really draw here is that it is technically feasible to combine tDCS, EEG and flight simulation training. That’s actually pretty neat in itself, but beyond that I’m afraid the statistics don’t allow us to put any weight in the actual results. You would need a sample size larger by at least an order of magnitude to have anything close to the statistical power you would really need to tackle this question. Perhaps that’s what the authors have in mind for the future.
Turning to the news coverage: the Telegraph story is predictably awful. Of course no information was “uploaded” with tDCS and it is irresponsible to claim otherwise. Even assuming the results of this preliminary study could be believed, what we would be observing is a facilitation of neural activity in brain regions responsible for learning. The stimulation itself contains no information.
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