mind reading

noun

1. the ability to discern the thoughts of others without the normal means of communication, especially by means of a preternatural power.
2. an act or the practice of so discerning the thoughts of another.

Word History and Origins

Origin of mind reading¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

China says it has already used the technology to make “mind reading” possible and a pair of U.S.-based scientists have demonstrated the ability to insert false memories into mice.

From Washington Times

This causes us to deploy the common cognitive distortion of mind reading, in which we're convinced we know what someone else is thinking.

From Salon

But Bellier’s team was not only interested in “mind reading,” says Sylvain Baillet, a neuroscientist at McGill who was not involved in the work.

From Science Magazine

But even if this approach works, the prospect of combining mind reading and machine learning to predict hit songs remains fraught with ethical dilemmas.

From Scientific American

It translates the communication between neurons into squiggly lines, which can tell us something about what's happening inside someone's skull — although it's also quite limited technology and not even close to mind reading.

From Salon