<p>My idea was similar to what "what" said; however, instead of the reader needing to be <strong>trained</strong> to the thoughts of other people and/or having to <strong>clone</strong> humans with these genes, the OP could have it to where the post-apocalyptic world in which the book is set in features humans that have evolved into what they are now, with having these receptors in their skin included. Similar to your statement about body language detection, some people's electroencephalographic receptors might be better at detection, much like our eyes and other organs.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-04T22:36:49.087Z
What if, in the time period before the OP's book is set, a group of scientists forced evolution onto their test subjects (a process that, yes, would have to go on for many years and was carried on by the descendants or remnants of this group). One way this could be explained is that these scientists finally discovered how to create their own DNA and then inserted it into their test subjects. After many years, 100% of their subjects had these electroencephalographic receptors.
Gandalf the White
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-04T22:27:28.053Z
2014-01-04T22:27:28.053Z
Gandalf the White
<p>As @what wrote, the state of our knowledge on Mind reading is low but it is an on-going research. The current research uses EEG and MRI techniques to retro-engineer (read and decipher) our thoughts and actions: see the <a href="http://sccn.ucsd.edu/wiki/Introduction_To_Modern_Brain-Computer_Interface_Design" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Introduction To Modern Brain-Computer Interface Design</a> linked to the EEGLAB software, or the Brain computer interface wikipedia page (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain</a>–computer_interface). </p>

<p>The most straightforward way to get to the apocalypse you described would be, in my opinion, the desire of human beings to <strong>enhance their cognitive abilities</strong> (called Transhumanism, see <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/3834/could-neuroscientific-knowledge-and-techiques-be-used-to-optimise-peoples-educa/3866#3866">Could neuroscientific knowledge and techiques be used to optimise peoples&#39; education and learning?</a>). This would be realised by having some <strong>stimulation electrodes in the brain</strong> (we actually do that for Parkinson). However, these <strong>electrodes could be hacked and be used as EEG readers</strong>. Smartphones would be an ideal candidate for such a hack (see how smartphones can already be coupled with EEG, <a href="http://milab.imm.dtu.dk/eeg" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://milab.imm.dtu.dk/eeg</a>).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-05T23:36:13.733Z
2014-01-05T23:36:13.733Z
2017-04-13T12:56:16.417Z
marsei
<p>I am writing a book. It will be post-apocalyptic, and the apocalypse I'm thinking of will involve people being able to read each other's mind. Can any of you give me a slightly plausible reason that this would happen / be possible?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-04T21:28:20.100Z
This is a [sci-fi](http://scifi.stackexchange.com/), not cog sci, question.
Keegan Keplinger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-01-05T00:47:47.293Z
I for one think this is a great question to ask here. Like questions on [Cross Validated](http://stats.stackexchange.com/) (with which I am more familiar), it presents an on-topic goal that is elusive, but broadly interesting. Furthermore, plenty of ongoing research in cognitive science directly addresses it, so it's a great chance for experts on this research to share their knowledge. I suspect the main reason for disagreeing with the appropriateness of this question was because the OP expressed uncertainty about it in the first place, which has now been edited out (wisely IMO). Keep it here!
Nick Stauner
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-07-03T10:39:40.207Z
Pity this was closed. As we see from the answers, it's not opinion based (albeit speculative), and, most importantly, it requires cognitive science expertise to answer it, so IMO this place would have been appropriate for it.
jona
<social-psychology><perception><philosophy-of-mind><metacognition><theory-of-mind>
What is a scientifically plausible method by which people might in the future be able to read minds?
dreamwithinadream
# What is a scientifically plausible method by which people might in the future be able to read minds?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-01-04)

I am writing a book. It will be post-apocalyptic, and the apocalypse I'm thinking of will involve people being able to read each other's mind. Can any of you give me a slightly plausible reason that this would happen / be possible?

**Tags:** social-psychology, perception, philosophy-of-mind, metacognition, theory-of-mind

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is a [sci-fi](http://scifi.stackexchange.com/), not cog sci, question.  
> **username_2**: I for one think this is a great question to ask here. Like questions on [Cross Validated](http://stats.stackexchange.com/) (with which I am more familiar), it presents an on-topic goal that is elusive, but broadly interesting. Furthermore, plenty of ongoing research in cognitive science directly addresses it, so it's a great chance for experts on this research to share their knowledge. I suspect the main reason for disagreeing with the appropriateness of this question was because the OP expressed uncertainty about it in the first place, which has now been edited out (wisely IMO). Keep it here!  
> **username_3**: Pity this was closed. As we see from the answers, it's not opinion based (albeit speculative), and, most importantly, it requires cognitive science expertise to answer it, so IMO this place would have been appropriate for it.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-01-04. Score: 1

My idea was similar to what "what" said; however, instead of the reader needing to be **trained** to the thoughts of other people and/or having to **clone** humans with these genes, the OP could have it to where the post-apocalyptic world in which the book is set in features humans that have evolved into what they are now, with having these receptors in their skin included. Similar to your statement about body language detection, some people's electroencephalographic receptors might be better at detection, much like our eyes and other organs.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: What if, in the time period before the OP's book is set, a group of scientists forced evolution onto their test subjects (a process that, yes, would have to go on for many years and was carried on by the descendants or remnants of this group). One way this could be explained is that these scientists finally discovered how to create their own DNA and then inserted it into their test subjects. After many years, 100% of their subjects had these electroencephalographic receptors.  

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### Answer by username_5 on 2014-01-05. Score: 1

As @what wrote, the state of our knowledge on Mind reading is low but it is an on-going research. The current research uses EEG and MRI techniques to retro-engineer (read and decipher) our thoughts and actions: see the [Introduction To Modern Brain-Computer Interface Design](http://sccn.ucsd.edu/wiki/Introduction_To_Modern_Brain-Computer_Interface_Design) linked to the EEGLAB software, or the Brain computer interface wikipedia page (<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain>–computer\_interface).

The most straightforward way to get to the apocalypse you described would be, in my opinion, the desire of human beings to **enhance their cognitive abilities** (called Transhumanism, see [Could neuroscientific knowledge and techiques be used to optimise peoples' education and learning?](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/3834/could-neuroscientific-knowledge-and-techiques-be-used-to-optimise-peoples-educa/3866#3866)). This would be realised by having some **stimulation electrodes in the brain** (we actually do that for Parkinson). However, these **electrodes could be hacked and be used as EEG readers**. Smartphones would be an ideal candidate for such a hack (see how smartphones can already be coupled with EEG, <http://milab.imm.dtu.dk/eeg>).


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