11 | December | 2008 | Robot Pirate Ninja

In Visual Image Reconstruction from Human Brain Activity using a Combination of Multiscale Local Image Decoders, Miyawaki et al demonstrate visual input prediction using fMRI responses. Using 3mm³voxels, the group measured the activity level across early visual cortex (V1-V4) for numerous 10×10 binary patterns of visual stimuli. They looked at correlations in 1×1, 1×2, 2×1 and 2×2 bins of voxel activity to hundreds of visual test patterns. The activity represented local image elements. Then they displayed novel visual input and used a linear combination of the local image element responses to predict the visual input from the brain activity alone. It is noteworthy that they only required several hundred training images before visual input prediction was possible.

via Updated: fMRI Based Visual Stimulus Reconstruction « Brain Windows.

This is some pretty amazing research and shows how close we are coming to some “holy grail” style-breakthroughs in brain research. It should also be possible to reverse the process and create Geordy-style visors in another 50 or 100 years.

There’s a few things I’d like to do dang near every day if possible. Three of those things include 1) writing good stuff, 2) having deep, honest, soul-sharing conversations with others, 3) do some dancin’ and 4) engaging in wild, passionate, sexual relations.

So yea, yesterday was a good day. Particularly since 2) and 4) were both with different people (3 and 4 went together, obviously). It’s a bonus when it’s the same one, but splitting it up a bit is nice too. 🙂

BTW, the book is up past 20K words. This is right on schedule to reach 50-60K by the end of the month (my goal, as mentioned). If you want to get a very vague outline for the book, read those mini-bios above. The book expands on those by a couple orders of magnitude and is interspersed with a number of philosophical and spiritual metaphors. I’m not sure if it works yet, but I’ve been able to work in a number of things that I’ve been thinking about for years, and I’m *really* liking the direction it has taken.

If I can work up the courage, I might put up an excerpt later this week. I’m not sure exactly how to proceed on that angle, so I’m probably going to have to ask some offline advice.

UPDATE: This is kinda funny…I found it on my door this afternoon.

RE: Noise Complaint

Several times recently our Courtesy Officer has been alerted for loud noise complainst regarding excessively loud music coming from [my section of the apartment building] {ed note: this is my neighbor who likes to crank the tunes}. One specific instance occurred between the hours of 6:30 and 8:00 this morning {ed note: it was loud, but it wasn’t music ;-}. Our goal, as you know, is to create a peaceful living environment for all our residents. Please be considerate of your neighbors an be observant of any excessive noise {ed note: I was quite observant}. Please remember that excessive noise causing disturbance to your fellow residents is a violation of your lease agreement.

[etc. etc.]

Like I said…passionate.