The US military is providing $4 million worth of funding into a scientific research programme focusing on how to mind-read, a possible result of which could be the production, one day, of new technology actually able to reveal what soldiers who have received brain injuries on the battlefield are thinking.

Enemy Forces

Connected to the new research, however, is the thought that technology of this kind could have a different application - that of interrogating captured enemy forces.

The scientists carrying out the research hail from three universities in the US and, together, are analysing signals produced by the brain in an attempt to decode human thoughts, as well as the intended recipient of the message being created.

EEG

Scientifically speaking, the process being used in the programme is EEG, or 'electroencephalography', during which electrodes attached to the skull assess the level of electrical activity going on in the brain.

Those taking part in the research have these electrodes fixed on, then their brain activity monitored while they are thinking of a particular word which the researchers have selected.

In years to come, it is hoped that technology actually able to recognise a person's thoughts, and then reproduce them via electronic means (i.e. computer), can be developed.

Thought Technology

According to Michael D'Zmura, head researcher involved, the creation of technology able to decipher thoughts produced in a "free manner" is "years away."

On the subject of future machines being used in an interrogative manner, he added: "This will never be used in a way without somebody's real, active cooperation."

According, meanwhile, to defence research group GlobalSecurity.org's director, John Pike, the technology's development is not yet at a complete enough stage for the US military to use it.

"They're still in the proof of principle stage", he commented.

Source - Armed Forces International's US Correspondent