Reading Minds for a Better Society

In the last decade, brain imaging technology has made significant progress, leading to previously unimaginable results. Studying and understanding the structure of the human brain has opened new horizons for practical applications in healthcare and everyday life. The latest frontier is called "brain scanning" and is based on the AI's ability to read human thoughts through the analysis of neural synapses. This seems to be the future in the cryptography of the "mental image" that each of us possesses and a new way of social and professional interaction on an individual and species level. In addition to being a powerful diagnostic tool in the medical field, this process allows for a better understanding of the cognitive functions and decision-making processes of the human brain.

Current technology and its applications:
Current scientific knowledge only permits non-invasive external approaches, which, although unable to analyze heuristic modes of thought and action, are of fundamental importance in the medical field for the prevention and localization of specific neural pathologies. In this context, the following are mentioned:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI is one of the most common and effective brain imaging techniques. It uses powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to create high-resolution images of the brain. MRI can detect changes in brain structure, such as tumors, aneurysms, and lesions, and provides valuable information about brain anatomy. In addition to structural magnetic resonance imaging, functional MRI (fMRI) is used to map brain activity related to specific cognitive or sensory functions.
- Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
PET involves the injection of a radioactive tracer into the circulatory system to detect metabolic activity and blood flow in the brain. This technique is often used to study the neurochemical and neurobiological processes of the brain. PET can reveal brain areas involved in specific cognitive functions or pathologies such as Alzheimer's, providing a unique view of physiological alterations in the brain.
- Electroencephalography (EEG)
EEG involves the placement of electrodes on the scalp to record the electrical signals produced by brain activity. It is widely used to provide a direct measure of brain electrical activity. It is a commonly used test for diagnosing diseases such as epilepsy or studying cognitive processes such as attention and sleep. However, its limitation is limited spatial resolution, as it can only detect superficial brain activity.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
MEG utilizes magnetic sensors to measure the magnetic fields generated by neural activity. It offers higher temporal resolution than MRI and EEG, allowing for real-time monitoring of brain activity with high temporal accuracy. MEG is particularly useful for studying high-frequency brain activities, such as those involved in auditory perception or language processing.

Technologies currently under development and experimentation for future applications:
Among the promising upcoming approaches in brain imaging technology are neural chips proposed by various companies and researchers. The potential goal of such devices is to create a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) that can establish a bidirectional connection between the human brain and external devices.
Currently, these prostheses are designed to be implanted in the brain cortex through minimally invasive surgery, connecting with specific neural areas accurately and in real-time. The application of thin and flexible electrode wires is being considered, which will transmit signals to an external microprocessor placed on the scalp. This processor will decode and digitize our own neural synapses, which also contain our thoughts.
The potential of this technology could bring numerous benefits in various fields, from medical to social, and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mind and human intelligence. It would enable individuals with motor disabilities to control prostheses or devices with their thoughts, thereby improving their quality of life and ability to interact with the external world. Additionally, it could be used in the treatment of neurological disorders such as paralysis, providing new therapeutic options to restore or enhance motor function.

However, it is worth noting that such direct neural analysis systems would open up new possibilities in many fields, without overlooking the aforementioned medical applications, particularly in the context of professional skills. In fact, in our increasingly fast-paced, connected, and interdependent world, the search for professionals in any field is crucial. However, once approval is obtained, there is rarely an objective and valid evaluation of a person's talents and skills. Traditionally, these have been assessed through experience and references provided by the individual during one or more tests or interviews, emphasizing that experience is not always synonymous with competence but rather the ability to learn and adapt to situations. On the other hand, aptitude, as well as the actual personal archive of an individual's life, is a characteristic that develops over time and is not necessarily linked to the amount of specific experience or general education. However, it is not easy to determine a person's aptitudes and adaptability in any professional field, precisely because there is no neural scan that reveals what someone truly knows and not just what is taken for granted.
What solution could be adopted to assess the aptitudes of citizens, both to integrate them into society and to place them in the most suitable professional sector based on their mental processes? The answer could be provided by new research on brain imaging, making it possible to objectively detect a person's cognitive abilities, such as memory, attention, creativity, and problem-solving skills, as well as personality traits such as optimism, transparency, and social affinity. These data, if processed in a predictive statistical computing system, could serve as a key to understanding aptitude, addressing the problems mentioned and going beyond a simple predisposition to fit a role. In fact, if it were also possible to acquire information about past experiences and how they were faced, there would be a more objective view of how an individual interacted with the situations that arose, with the aim of achieving optimal selection.
Not to mention the potential help in the application of civil or criminal law: having access to the same memories of past actions could facilitate the identification of any committed infractions. This factor alone could act as a deterrent to prevent crime and unequivocally dismantle organized criminal associations.
Of course, there are some critical aspects to consider. First and foremost is the cost of the research itself and the accuracy percentage compared to standard evaluation, which experimentation may not guarantee. Furthermore, being a new field of research, there may be multiple interpretations of individual neural values and knowledge to reach reliable results.
Privacy is also an issue to consider: using neural scanning and subsequent processing systems to analyze attitudes and memories could violate privacy. In particular, sensitive information about personality, emotions, thoughts, and experiences could be revealed, invading one's privacy. There is a concrete risk of extrapolating more information than necessary or strictly related to the specific purpose; that is, there is no selectivity of the acquired information, once the brain archive is open, any memory could be accessed. Additionally, this technology could be used for discriminatory purposes against people with mental health problems, disabilities, or those who belong to a particular social or cultural class. In terms of sociology, excessive personalization of the selection process could lead to a loss of the possibility of learning and a decrease in diversity and inclusion.

To conclude in a positive perspective, it is hoped that if adopted correctly, this technology could represent an effective tool, both in the medical and social fields, from the treatment of neurological dysfunctions to a perfect integration into society. Providing an individual with specific means to express their full potential, or assigning them the most suitable tasks, should not be seen as discrimination; on the contrary, it could be respect and valorization of the brain structure in which a mind can best operate. Synaptic evaluation would therefore allow for better professional classification, achieving a better balance between aptitude and competence evaluations and avoiding cases where the amount of experience is overvalued compared to actual skills.