The extent to which the properties of a quantum system can be measured is described by physicist Werner Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. To those new to the world of quantum physics, this principle is based on the very simple assumption that one can only observe a system or a phenomenon after having interfered with it by transmitting energy to the system. Subatomic particles, like electrons, are so sensitive that if you want to measure their position or energy by radiating the system (the atom) with electromagnetic waves (the same thing as lighting up a torch in a dark room to be able to look around and see what is in there), you will eventually knock out the electron from its "original" position and observe it somewhere else or with a different momentum (~energy).The main implication of this theory is that we can only have a picture of the world we live in to a limited extent. We cannot say what happens beyond that limit, what was the exact energy and position of that electron before we observed it, how the atomic nucleus and subatomic particles really look like, and even cannot be sure that these things we call particles had existed at all before we engaged in their direct observation. Bizarre. Not only for us, but also for the physicists of the era when Heisenberg came up with this idea about the limitations of our observations. Since then the scientific society has been eager to prove that Heisenberg was wrong - without any success. Today's hot news on the issue is that the precise predictions of the principle still hold without any doubt. Read more about the current debate and the new findings here.
(For contemplators lost in Wikipedia's articles on modern physics, I would recommend the brilliant book of John Gribbin, In Search of Schrödinger's Cat)
I'd pose a bold question that just came to my mind in connection with this theory and that may have been emerged through the 'torch example'. Would it be possible to control the way of human thoughts? Since in the thinking procedure we speak about electrons, neurons and brainwaves.. so if you force them to the desired direction, can you determine the next thought of a person by that?
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As far as I know there are ways to influence feelings and emotions going on in the human brain, for example with deep brain stimulation (DBS) where electrodes are put into the brain to change processes going on inside. There are methods based on stimulation from outside too, electromagnetic waves shot into your brain through your skull are also able to alter thoughts and bring forth emotions. So generally speaking, neural processes can be influenced from outside, yes. However, i suspect that the uncertainty principle outlined above applies to cognitive processes as well which means that if you want to influence processes that means you have to transmit energy, and by that you will mix up the whole system. So constructing a machine that allows you to play with someone's brain like a puppet seems unlikely to me in practice.
DeleteThanks for the question, cheers :)