TELEPATHY 77
Leading this quantum revolution are the PET (positron-emission tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scans. A PET
scan is created by injecting radioactive sugar into the blood. This sugar
concentrates in parts of the brain that are activated by the thinking
process, which requires energy. The radioactive sugar emits positrons
(antielectrons) that are easily detected by instruments. Thus, by tracing
out the pattern created by antimatter in the living brain, one can also
trace out the patterns of thought, isolating precisely which parts of the
brain are engaged in which activity.
The MRI machine operates in the same way, except it is more precise. A patient's head is placed inside a huge doughnut-shaped magnetic field. The magnetic field makes the nuclei of the atoms in the
brain align parallel to the Field lines. A radio pulse is sent into the patient, making these nuclei wobble. When the nuclei flip orientation,
they emit a tiny radio "echo" that can be detected, thereby signaling the
presence of a particular substance. For example, brain activity is related to oxygen consumption, so the MRI machine can isolate the
process of thinking by zeroing in on the presence of oxygenated blood.
The higher the concentration of oxygenated blood, the greater the
mental activity in that part of the brain. (Today "functional MRI machines" [fMRI] can zero in on tiny areas of the brain only a millimeter
across in fractions of a second, making these machines ideal for tracing out the pattern of thoughts of the living brain.)
MRI LIE DETECTORS
With MRI machines, there is a possibility that one day scientists may
be able to decipher the broad outlines of thoughts in the living brain.
The simplest test of "mind reading" would be to determine whether or
not someone is lying.
According to legend, the world's first lie detector was created by an
Indian priest centuries ago. He would put the suspect and a "magic
donkey" into a sealed room, with the instruction that the suspect
Leading this quantum revolution are the PET (positron-emission tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) brain scans. A PET
scan is created by injecting radioactive sugar into the blood. This sugar
concentrates in parts of the brain that are activated by the thinking
process, which requires energy. The radioactive sugar emits positrons
(antielectrons) that are easily detected by instruments. Thus, by tracing
out the pattern created by antimatter in the living brain, one can also
trace out the patterns of thought, isolating precisely which parts of the
brain are engaged in which activity.
The MRI machine operates in the same way, except it is more precise. A patient's head is placed inside a huge doughnut-shaped magnetic field. The magnetic field makes the nuclei of the atoms in the
brain align parallel to the Field lines. A radio pulse is sent into the patient, making these nuclei wobble. When the nuclei flip orientation,
they emit a tiny radio "echo" that can be detected, thereby signaling the
presence of a particular substance. For example, brain activity is related to oxygen consumption, so the MRI machine can isolate the
process of thinking by zeroing in on the presence of oxygenated blood.
The higher the concentration of oxygenated blood, the greater the
mental activity in that part of the brain. (Today "functional MRI machines" [fMRI] can zero in on tiny areas of the brain only a millimeter
across in fractions of a second, making these machines ideal for tracing out the pattern of thoughts of the living brain.)
MRI LIE DETECTORS
With MRI machines, there is a possibility that one day scientists may
be able to decipher the broad outlines of thoughts in the living brain.
The simplest test of "mind reading" would be to determine whether or
not someone is lying.
According to legend, the world's first lie detector was created by an
Indian priest centuries ago. He would put the suspect and a "magic
donkey" into a sealed room, with the instruction that the suspect