Mythbusters Brainwashing Episode

[gregi696]

I don't know if anyone else here is a fan of the Discovery Channel show Mythbusters, but last night the did a show about brainwashing devices. I guess it is quasi related to hypnosis. One interesting point is that they isolated a test subject and projected different kinds of subliminal messages into the room, including the hidden voice. (The voice is played under another noise so that the voice isn't heard.) Well, they found that it did not have any effect. Anyone esle see the episode? Any thoughts on these findings?

[deathjdstn]

i love the mythbusters i watch the repeat of the week on the weekend so i will catch that episode this weekend and let u know my thoughts i watch it every week :)

[sandy82]

[gregi696]

They did not test anything long term. The one with the message, where they were seeking a specifc result, was "touch your nose." The other attempts they did used patend pending devices that are said to affect brainwaves. To measure that, they used an EEG.

One device used pulsed air that was supposed to increase stimulation in a part of the brain that leads to anxiety. Another included a rotating magnetic bar that was supposed to have the same effect as the pulsed air. Neither of these showed any results on on the EEG.

Lastly they tried a "hypnotising machine" that used a flashing light and pulsating sound that graudually slowed down. This last one did show a change in the EEG. The overall activity went down during exposure to the noise and light.

[sandy82]

Sounds like an interesting series of tests.

I'm not surprised that the last one worked. Bright flashing lights are one of the primary means for measuring brain responses via EEG. One bank of lights aimed toward the left eye, the other toward the right.

It would be a big surprise if that particular test didn't work.