We’re one step closer to mind-controlled zombies! University of Washington psychology professor Andrea Stocca told reporters in a news release yesterday, “The Internet was a way to connect computers, and now it can be a way to connect brains.” And he went on to demonstrate that it can be done today.
Rajesh Rao, a computer science professor at the University of Washington, donned a electrode-connected cap hooked to an electroencephalography machine, that monitored Rao’s brain activity while he watched a video game on a video screen. When the game indicated a trigger fire was needed, Rao imagined moving his right hand to hit the trigger (without actually moving his hand to press the trigger). Meanwhile, on the other side of the University of Washington campus, Stocca wore a similar cap with a magnetic coil placed directly over the region of the brain that controls his right hand. His right hand was placed over the space bar of a computer keyboard. When Rao imagined moving his right hand, the signal was transmitted over the network and into Stocca’s receiver which emitted an electrical pulse into his brain causing his right hand to involuntarily move and press the space bar on the computer keyboard.
Stocco told NBC News,
“It was akin to the sensation when your eye twitches. You know that your eye is twitching, but you don’t know when it’s coming.”
University of Washington researchers calmed the public by noting that direct mind control over unwitting subjects was not yet possible.
“I think some people will be unnerved by this because they will overestimate the technology. There’s no possible way the technology that we have could be used on a person unknowingly or without their willing participation.”
Yes folks, it’s now time to don the tin caps.