• Question: Is mind reading possible?

    Asked by anon-267480 on 5 Nov 2020.
    • Photo: K Sasitharan

      K Sasitharan answered on 5 Nov 2020:

      Well, that is a tricky question. I am no expert in this, but I feel like if we know someone really well, then we can tell when they are upset or sad or happy without them actually having to tell us. Beyond that I am not sure.

    • Photo: Julian Onions

      Julian Onions answered on 5 Nov 2020:

      There is a lot of work being done with EEG, MEG and fMRI on brain activity, and in some cases you can associate patterns in the brain with concepts. However it is at a very early stage, and needs some big equipment. It can really only attach patterns with emotions – so you might be able to tell if someone is exercising, or maybe happy, but that is about all so far.

    • Photo: Adrien Chauvet

      Adrien Chauvet answered on 5 Nov 2020:

      Yes, but not (yet) in the realm of science 🙂
      From a scientific point of view, they are studies done on how your heart beating pattern can influence other’s heart beating patterns (via the electromagnetic signal it emits). It is not exactly mind reading, but it is first step toward discovering “new” means of communications that go beyond our usual sounds and signs.

    • Photo: Daisy Shearer

      Daisy Shearer answered on 8 Nov 2020:

      This is an interesting one! So, probably not in the way that you are thinking but we can look at brain activity using imaging techniques like MRI scanning (which uses quantum mechanics to function but that’s a question for another day!). I think in the future these kinds of brain imaging techniques will become even more sophisticated.

      In terms of psychics and mentalists who claim to be able to read minds, there are two main techniques that they use to ‘read minds’. One is ‘cold reading’ which is where they take clues from your clothes, body language, what you say etc. to make educated guesses as to what you are thinking. The other method is called ‘hot reading’ which is where they look you up prior to meeting you!

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