United Kingdom, 2006-Oct-10
NEURObotics…the future of thinking?, sponsored by Siemens, investigates how medical technology could boost our brains, read our thoughts or give us mind control over machines. It shows how a shock to the brain could improve your creativity, a scan can reveal your deepest thoughts and your brainwaves can enable you to move in a virtual world. Visitors are able to challenge themselves with interactive exhibits, including a game where visitors battle for control of a ball using brainpower alone.
The Science Museum is launching a debate through this exhibition about how these technologies are used. Emma Hedderwick, exhibition manager, said: “Researchers have already been able to use today’s technology to diagnose and treat many conditions that affect the brain, allowing new insight into how our brains work. But, in the future, could it be common to use these technologies for personal enhancement? This new research is both exciting and fascinating but it is important to consider the ethical issues of using it to better our brains.”
The interactive exhibition, shows how Cassie Yukawa, a classical pianist, markedly improved her performance and creativity by having EEG (electroencephalogram) neurofeedback treatment. Research suggests that this treatment can improve students’ performance by as much as a musical grade or a class of degree. NEURObotics…the future of thinking? asks whether this could be as controversial an issue as performance-enhancing drugs in sport if this technology becomes more widely available.
The exhibition also looks at fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans, which are able to show a person is lying simply by scanning their brain activity. There is the potential that this could be used as evidence in court cases if it was proved to be accurate. The exhibition asks whether this mind reading would effectively rule out the centuries old tradition of a defendant’s right to remain silent, and if it has worryingly strong echoes of the thought police imagined in George Orwell’s 1984.
Brain chips and brain caps which use brain power to control objects are some of the most stunning exhibits on display in NEURObotics...the future of thinking? These technologies are currently being used to help those who are severely paralysed or incapacitated to gain control of their environment, but it is thought they could be used for a new generation of virtual reality computer games.
“This technology is here and has the potential to radically affect what it means to be human in the 21st century. We have to think about where we want the boundaries to be, both morally and in terms of legislation,” Emma added.
Alan Wood, chief executive, Siemens said: "NEURObotics...the future of thinking? is a fascinating exhibition with some outstanding examples of scientific research. Siemens' involvement with the Science Museum is a part of our programme to inspire greater interest in science and engineering especially among young people."
Visitor information
NEURObotics…the future of thinking? opens at the Science Museum on 10 October and entry is free. The exhibition runs for six months until April 2007. The Science Museum is open daily from 10am – 6pm. For more information visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk or call 0870 870 4868. Nearest tube: South Kensington.
About Siemens:
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 163 years ago. The company employs 21,122 people in the UK , including about 5,000 in the manufacturing sector. Last year’s revenues were £3 billion, including exports of £500 million. Siemens provides innovative, high-quality services and solutions to customers in a diverse range of industry sectors, including power, automation and control, information and communication, medical, transportation, lighting, and household. Siemens Medical Solutions is the UK 's biggest supplier of medical technology, diagnostic imaging systems, IT and managed services, to the healthcare industry. Every Siemens MRI scanner and more than a third of all MRI scanners installed in hospitals around the world have at their heart a superconducting magnet designed and manufactured by Siemens Magnet Technology in Oxfordshire.
Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK , with its headquarters in Bracknell, Berkshire. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visitwww.siemens.co.uk
Further Information
Ms. Keogh Anne
Media Relations Manager
Siemens plc
Tel: +44 (0)1344 396312
Mobile +44 (0)7808 823545