University of Bergen researchers have used fMRI machines to record neurological patterns preceding careless errors.

Researchers observed test subjects’ minds going on autopilot up to half a minute before the subjects actually made mistakes, even though the subjects weren’t aware of their own lapses of attention.

They hope to correlate the fMRI readings with EEG brain patterns. If that can be done, the brain changes that precede errors could be monitored with a few detachable electrodes rather than an expensive, large fMRI machine. Send the readings wirelessly to a device that sets off alarms when mental attention wanders, and straying focus could be restored before it does harm.