Blue Pill or Red Pill? Matrix style training technology for Humans
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Ever wished that you could upload data directly to your brain just like the Neo had his training skills uploaded in the Matrix? You could be in luck!
Using a similar technic as illustrated in the Matrix, scientists have created a way to amplify or boost the speed of which humans learn new skills.
In the movie, Neo (Keanu Reeves) has many martial art skills uploaded to his brain in just seconds.
Well, on a smaller scale, scientists from the HRL Information and System Sciences Laboratory in California are able to replicate the process.
By understanding the electric signals taking place in the brain of a qualified pilot, analysing, and then feeding this data into the brain of an untrained person via an electric scalp-cap, a 33% improvement was noted compared to the control group (novices that where not exposed to the therapy) .
"Our system is one of the first of its kind. It's a brain stimulation system. Says Dr Matthew Phillip
"It sounds kind of sci-fi, but there's large scientific basis for the development of our system.
"The specific task we were looking at was piloting an aircraft, which requires a synergy of both cognitive and motor performance.
"When you learn something, your brain physically changes. Connections are made and strengthened in a process called neuro-plasticity.
"It turns out that certain functions of the brain, like speech and memory, are located in very specific regions of the brain, about the size of your pinkie.
"What our system does is it actually targets those changes to specific regions of the brain as you learn.
"The method itself is actually quite old. In fact, the ancient Egyptians 4,000 years ago used electric fish to stimulate and reduce pain.
"Even Ben Franklin applied currents to his head, but the rigorous, scientific investigation of these methods started in the early 2000s and we're building on that research to target and personalise a stimulation in the most effective way possible.
"Your brain is going to be very different to my brain when we perform a task. What we found is that in specific circumstances, brain stimulation seems to be particularly effective at actually improving learning."
The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, invited expert pilots to perform the experiments to test their brain activity when using a flight simulator.
They then replicated the brain states of the expert in the novice, who had never done the task before.
Dr Phillips added: "We were able to take a group of individuals and train them to a similar level.
"The method relies on physical contact with the scalp - a head-cap through conductive gel to apply the current to the skin.
"The effects can persist for hours. The effects take days or weeks of practice to consolidate. It's the same learning mechanism; we're just amplifying or boosting it.
"As we discover more about optimising, personalising, and adapting brain stimulation protocols, we'll likely see these technologies become routine in training and classroom environments.
"It's possible that brain stimulation could be implemented for classes like drivers' training, SAT prep, and language learning."
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