It was only a matter of time: Study shows how scientists can now ‘read your mind’

It sounds like a bit of science-fiction – but scientists say they have found a way to read the human mind.

Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles have developed what they call a ‘brain reading’ that uses past history to determine future cognitive patterns and thought process.

They compare the results to Google’s predictive search capability, when the website guesses what search terms users are typing before they finish.

The study, led by author Ariana Anderson, postdoctoral fellow in the Integrative Neuroimaging Technology lab at the university, was performed on smokers experiencing nicotine cravings.

Scientists exposed the test subjects to videos meant to induce cravings. Some smokers were presented ‘neutral’ videos and some watched no video at all. They were then instructed to attempt to fight off any nicotine cravings.

ARMONK, N.Y. – Century-old technology colossus IBM on Monday depicted a near future in which machines read minds and recognize who they are dealing with.

The ” IBM 5 in 5 ” predictions were based on societal trends and research which the New York State-based company expected to begin bearing fruit by the year 2017.

“From Houdini to Skywalker to X-Men, mind reading has merely been wishful thinking for science fiction fans for decades, but their wish may soon come true,” IBM said in its annual assessment of innovations on the horizon.

“IBM scientists are among those researching how to link your brain to your devices, such as a computer or a smartphone,” it continued.