Mind-reading devices can now predict preconscious thoughts: is it time to worry?
Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript. Advertisement Liam Drew is a freelance writer based near London, UK. Search author on: PubMed Google Scholar Illustration: Ollie Hirst Before a car crash in 2008 left her paralysed from the neck down, Nancy Smith enjoyed playing the piano. Years later, Smith started making music again, thanks to an implant that recorded and analysed her brain activity. When she imagined playing an on-screen keyboard, her brain–computer interface (BCI) translated her thoughts into keystrokes — and simple melodies, such as ‘Twinkle,
NEWS FEATURE 19 November 2025 Ethicists say AI-powered advances will threaten the privacy and autonomy of people who use neurotechnology. By Liam Drew0 Liam Drew Liam Drew is a freelance writer based near London, UK. Illustration: Ollie Hirst Before a car crash in 2008 left her paralysed from the neck down, Nancy Smith enjoyed playing the piano. Years later, Smith started making music again, thanks to an implant that recorded and analysed her brain activity. When she imagined playing an on-screen keyboard, her brain–computer interface (BCI) translated her thoughts into keystrokes —…
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