Harvard team achieves brain to brain communication across thousands of miles

Researchers at Harvard University broke through what seemed like a magical wall when they established brain to brain communication for the first time between humans.

In one setting, a subject was wired to an electroencephalogram (EEG), wirelessly connected to the internet.

The subject would think simple words, like "hola," or "ciao," and the messages were registered as simple binary impulses by the EEG (1's or 0's).  This data was transmitted across the world to another person, connected to a transcranial magnetic stimulator.

The stimulator is able to cause pulses in the brain of the receiver, which translate as flashes of light, known as phosphenes, to appear in their peripheral vision.  These flashes were then decoded to reveal the message.

"It is kind of technological realization of the dream of telepathy, but it is definitely not magical," said Giulio Ruffini, a theoretical physicist and co-author of the research.  "We are using technology to interact electromagnetically with the brain."

The experiment was a success.  The scientists recognize it is a long and drawn out way to demonstrate the possibility of mind to mind communication, but also explain that it is a step towards interfacing with machines and other humans using only your thoughts.