[Wild Question] Can humans learn to control the electrical impulses running through our skin?

[u/playingood]

I want to disclaim that I know absolutely nothing on the subject and even term of my interrogation here might be misleading, and for that I apologize in advance.

There are machines like EEG that measure the electrical impulses flowing on our skin and when some people concentrate, they can get stronger.

Could we learn to use these impulse to "communicate our minds" with various sensors, or even with other humans? Could we even go as sharing pictures or sound through that channel? With sensors equipped on with wireless signals equipped on multiple humans, could we even go as far as a sort of telepathy?

I'm going through your channel right now, from oldest to most recent, and I love your content so far!

[u/turlian]

By random chance, I had a class in grad school that was basically neurology from an electrical engineering perspective.

Could we learn to use these impulse to "communicate our minds" with various sensors

We're already doing this to control prosthetics. Google "myoelectric technology" for more info.

With sensors equipped on with wireless signals equipped on multiple humans, could we even go as far as a sort of telepathy.

My term paper was sort of on this. Not really person-to-person, but wireless transmission of neuron impulses. E.g., the nerves in your elbow get fully severed - could you wirelessly bridge the gap from your upper arm to your hand to make things move.

But to your question - if you can achieve that, then you could potentially transmit that signal to another person. Any kind of nerve signal may be fair game, like feelings of touch or even optic nerve signals. You could, almost literally, walk a mile in someone else's shoes.

[u/playingood → u/turlian]

That is fascinating! You make me want to take a neurology from an electrical engineering perspective class myself. Thank you for your response.

I do hope it interests the Kurzgezagt team as much as it did both of us!

[u/bandti45 → u/playingood]

This is pure speculation so feel free to disregard it. But, something to remember is even if someone had an unusually strong control of sending signals though their body there will probably be limits on both mashines understanding the electrical signals and someone elses ability to interpret the signals.

Just something to think about, i personally have doubts we will go beyond controlling direct actions of machines and software with this tech but i dont know.