Frost Bite: Perception, Cognition and Learning

Brain-Computer Interfaces

Sun, 16 Jul 2006 16:07:30 GMT

NY Times report of a paralyzed individual who was able to control a cursor, a robotoc arm and a television set with just his thoughts. More articles here - [1] [2] [3]

Cyberkinetics Neurotechnology Systems Inc., a company out of Foxborough MA, is responsible for developing this implantable chip and its interface - a permanent port in the skull into which a cable from a computer is inserted whenever the subject wishes to perform tasks. Sounds familiar?

These researchers have tapped into motor cortex neural activity meaning that the subject just imagines that he is moving an imaginary limb and the embedded chip transmits these signals (corresponding to neural activity for actuating motion and its perpeptuation through the duration of the task) through the port in the skull to a computer on the outside. Though the potential of this development is enormous, the accuracy and other statistics of task completion are no better than non-intrusive methods(using electroencephalography) developed by another group of researchers out of NY. What is interesting to note is that another set of researchers have developed techniques to detect and transmit neural activity(in monkeys at present) that represents the intention of the brain to perform a task. A brain-computer interface of this sort - one that drives a task with just the thought of doing it and not actually thinking through the physical motions involved, represents, in my opinion, a true brain-computer interface. Any advance in this field is welcome though!

Psychology 101

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 00:53:10 GMT

Cool stuff; experience psychology first hand through these interactive simulations and demonstrations (requires macromedia installed):

Psychic Phenomenon; Illustration of Binding; Hemisphere Control; Motion Aftereffect; Brightness Contrast; Muller-Lyer Illusion; Matching High School Photos; Afterimage; Filling in the Blind Spot; Color Blindness in Visual Periphery; Sperling Effect; Decay of Short-Term Memory; False Memory; Implicit Memories; Word Superiority Effect; Emotional Stroop Test; Overconfidence; Change Blindness; Framing Questions; McGurk Effect; Genetic generations; Universal Emotions; Stop Signal Task

Answer to "Seeing is Believing"

Wed, 22 Jun 2005 00:52:05 GMT

I recently put up an interesting post that challenges the way we perceive and our eye sees and how our brain interprets what the eye sees. After the overwhelming response, I decided to put up the answers for whoever cares to find out.

Answer