“What would it mean to be able to listen in on other’s thoughts? This idea has been a science fiction staple, but recent advances in imaging and neuropsychology are starting to make it look as if it might soon be possible.” From the Quirks and Quarks website.

One of the podcasts that I subscribe to on iTunes is “Quirks and Quarks,” a science talk show. I don’t listen to every episode, but mainly the ones that especially interest me. This one titled, “Reading Minds,” grabbed my attention. And it was definitely worth listening to. You can find a link to this particular program here. Prepare to be surprised and amazed, if not somewhat concerned. If you’re the fun-loving type, pay particular attention to the small segment on “false memories,” and to the word list that is given, and to the questions that immediately follow. I fell for this mental trick, and the explanation of why it works is quite revealing.

(If you aren’t familiar with podcasts and would like to try this one, just download the free iTunes program and install it, run it, and configure it to your liking. Then once you have it running, click on the Music Store section in the left pane, and then in the “Search Music Store” field at the very top-right side of the window, type “quirks and quarks.” The search may turn up related items for sale, but the podcasts are free, so look for the word “free” or “subscribe.” When I last checked, the “Quirks and Quarks” podcast was at the bottom of the list. Of course there are thousands of other podcasts to choose from, virtually all of them free. You can browse them from inside the iTunes Music Store. If you are using iTunes for the first time, just be aware that the application’s built-in advertising is mainly geared towards music albums and audiobooks that are available for purchase.)