BrainImaging
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MIT's Brainput reads your mind to make multi-tasking easier
With so much information readily available at our fingertips, a multitude of devices to access it from and an increasing outside demand for our divided attention, it's easy to short-circuit on the productivity front. But there's a bright spot on the horizon as emerging research out of MIT is poised to help offload the burden shouldered by our overtaxed grey matter with a much needed and intuitive assist from human-robot systems. The Brainput project -- as the collaborative effort is known -- combines near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) with an input system designed to read changes in a user's brain state and translate those signals into an adaptive multi-tasking interface. Sounds like heady stuff, but if successfully implemented into high-stress environments like air traffic control, the low-cost, experimental tech could go a long way to boosting individual performance and reducing overall stress levels. For now, the team still has a ways to go before the system, presently capable of interpreting three distinct mental states, could make its way into end user applications. Curious for a more in-depth, jargony journey through the project's ins and outs? Then click on the source below for your daily dose of scientific head candy.
Tetris players found to have greater brain efficiency, thicker cortex and better hair
You just knew all that Tetris playing you did as a kid yesterday was good for you, huh? A new study published by the big thinkers at Mind Research Network has found that "practicing Tetris" can actually improve brain efficiency and lead to a thicker cortex in other areas of the tabula rasa. In short, the study was done in order to show that the brain can change with stimulation, and that "a challenging visuospatial task has an impact on the structure of the cortex." Of course, this is far from the first published report to use the quarter century-old title as its testing tool, but it's certainly one of the best for getting your mum and pop to believe gaming really is good for the gord. Hit up the read links below for all the details -- you know they'll be firing off questions when you hit 'em with this.[Image courtesy of BumpyBrains]Read - Tetris study [PDF]Read - Press release
