I'm developing a theory about brain's network called: Ghosts in the Shell.<p>I'm trying to decentralizing my brain to a network of brains.<p>Ghost in the Shell (Japanese: 攻殻機動隊 シェルのゴースト) is a 1989 Japanese media franchise originally published as a seinen manga series of the same name written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow.<p>In that post-cyberpunk iteration of a possible future, computer technology has advanced to the point that many members of the public possess cyberbrains, technology that allows them to interface their biological brain with various networks. The level of cyberization varies from simple minimal interfaces to almost complete replacement of the brain with cybernetic parts, in cases of severe trauma. This can also be combined with various levels of prostheses, with a fully prosthetic body enabling a person to become a cyborg.<p>We are still way far from that kind of individual advanced tech in 2018, though we are slowly becoming the cyborg with a supercomputer in our pocket. With the sheer amount of information available in the world today, we have become overwhelmed.<p>Our mind is in a constant racing state.<p>Inspired by Ghost in the Shell, I believe the future of human thinking is to decentralize ourselves to a thinking network like "GHOSTS in the Shell". I think we should try to turn our brain into composable and functional brains network by starting to view everything as a function and iterate it like a machine, together.<p>We need to elevate our mind in this digital age. Not only as human, but also as human + machine.<p>(<a href="https://github.com/allenleein/brains/wiki" rel="nofollow">https://github.com/allenleein/brains/wiki</a>)
So I wonder if some people are more compatible, better readable, connectable, solvers etc then others. Then I can imagine an industry around people that can rent out their brain remotely to help solve problems. Kind of an AirBnB for brains ;-)
DARPA's Next-gen Non-surgical Neuro-tech (N3) program wants brain interfaces for drone pilots<p><a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/bionics/darpa-wants-brain-interfaces-for-able-bodied-warfighters" rel="nofollow">https://spectrum.ieee.org/the-human-os/biomedical/bionics/da...</a><p>But I think one interesting peacetime application focuses on brain training and deep meditation. One barrier to achieving trancelike states of flow and concentration is overcoming the constant involuntary barrage of "noise". Having a feedback loop may assist in getting there.<p>And in geriatric medicine, keeping the mind sharp is seen to improve longevity and quality of life. Designing custom games to improve neuroplasticity in the aging brain could allow for independence well into late retirement.
This is awesome, but am I wrong in thinking that EEG + TMS is a pretty low bandwidth signal? Not sure how useful this will ever be for "cooperative problem solving by humans using a "social network" of connected brains" as the article mentions.
The TMS product they are using to stimulate the receivers brain is pretty interesting.<p><a href="https://www.magstim.com/products/" rel="nofollow">https://www.magstim.com/products/</a><p>I'm pretty skeptical that you could use magnetism to transfer any sort of useful information into someone's brain. I'm guessing it just gives a sensation, or maybe some vague visual effect since it is used on the occipital lobe in this experiment.
Okay, this is crazy cool, but <i>you don't need hardware to do this!</i><p>Now that you know this is possible, go read about Charles Tart's mutual hypnosis experiment: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/cttart/articles/april2013articles/Psychedelic+Experiences+Associated+with+a+Novel+Hypnosis+Procedure+Mutual+Hypnosis.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://s3.amazonaws.com/cttart/articles/april2013articles/P...</a><p>That fact that they were able to nail down this kind of communication using the hardware and setup that they did is an existence proof that this sort of communication and synchronization are possible (and not that difficult to establish), however, we are already equipped with sophisticated sensory and signalling systems, more than capable of supporting this sort of thing without extra hardware.
Lightly edited extract from the paper, for anyone curious about the method:<p>BrainNet relies on two well-known technologies: Electroencephalography (EEG) for non-invasively recording brain signals from scalp and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for non-invasively stimulating the visual cortex. The Senders convey their decisions of "rotate" or "do not rotate" by controlling a horizontally moving cursor using steady-state visually-evoked potentials (SSVEPs): to convey a "rotate" decision, Senders focused their attention on a "Yes" LED light flashing at 17 Hz placed on one side of their computer screen; to convey a "do not rotate" decision, they focused on the “No” LED light flashing at 15 Hz placed on the other side.<p>The direction of movement of the cursor was determined by comparing the EEG power at 17 Hz versus 15 Hz, with a higher power at 17 Hz over that at 15 Hz moving the cursor towards the side near the “Yes” light, and vice versa for the "No" light. A "rotate" ("do not rotate") decision was made when the cursor hit the "YES" ("NO") side of the screen. In trials where the cursor did not reach either side of the screen due to trial time elapsing, the decision closest to the last location of the cursor was chosen as the subject’s decision.<p>The decisions of the two Senders were sent to the Receiver’s computer through a TCP/IP network and were further translated into single pulses of transcranial magentic stimulation (TMS) delivered to the occipital cortex of the Receiver. The intensity of the stimulation was set above or below the threshold at which the Receiver will perceive a flash of light known as a phosphene: a “Yes” response was translated to an intensity above the threshold, and “No” was translated to an intensity below the threshold. The Receiver made his/her decision based on whether a phosphene was perceived and this decision was conveyed to the game by the Receiver using the same SSVEP procedure used by both Senders.