Few neuroscientists from the University of Toronto have created a new method of recreating images perceived by the human brain based on electroencephalography (EEG) readings.

Dan Nemrodov, the postdoctoral fellow that developed the technique have released a few statements regarding the concept “When we see something, our brain creates a mental percept, which is essentially a mental impression of that thing, We were able to capture this percept using EEG to get a direct illustration of what’s happening in the brain during this process.” Said by him.

Test subjects were used an EEG machine and presented with images of different faces. The image was then regenerated digitally as it was grasped in the individual’s mind using machine learning techniques to match their brain activity to particular types of facial features. Previously, this has been accomplished using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data, but there are practical advantages to being able to use EEG to perform the same operation.

Normally when EEG machine is compared with FMRI then EEG machines are fairly common, portable, have a better temporal resolution and less expensive than FMRI scanners. And also capturing of images is much faster in EEG than FMRI. 

Some pessimist has expressed their doubt about the suitability of EEGs for such applications, but Nemrodov is confident the results prove otherwise. The next step will be for researchers to expand the process beyond images of faces.

While it might be constructive for some of the frightening applications like  “mind reading” technique which could be a life-changing for many people, giving those who are unable to speak or use sign language a way to communicate.

It could also help in solving law enforcement cases with the ability to render a clear picture of what an has witness remembers about a particular event and gives a verbal description of a person’s appearance to a sketch artist, which would easily solve the puzzled cases.