Pronunciation: [pˈasθɔːt] (IPA) 
The correct spelling of the word "passthought" is not commonly known, but it is often miswritten as "password." The correct phonetic transcription is /ˈpæsθɔt/. The initial "p" is pronounced with a puff of air /p/, followed by the "a" sound as in "ask" /æ/. The "ss" sound is spelled as double "s" /s/ and the "t" is sounded without aspiration /θ/. The final "t" is pronounced with a glottal stop as indicated by the symbol /ʔ/.
Passthought is a relatively modern term referring to a unique, individualized pattern of mental activity used for identification or authentication purposes. It is a concept that has emerged within the field of biometrics and is closely related to the idea of using brainwave patterns or cognitive processes as a form of personal identification.
In essence, a passthought can be understood as a mental password or a thought-based equivalent of a traditional login credential. It involves the use of one's unique brain activity to verify or authenticate their identity. This is achieved by analyzing and comparing specific brainwave patterns, neural responses, or cognitive processes elicited when an individual thinks about a specific word, image, or engages in a particular mental task.
Passthoughts rely on the understanding that each person's brain activity is highly distinctive and measurable through techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). By capturing and analyzing these brain activity patterns, an individual's passthought can be recorded and subsequently used as a means of identification or access to secure systems.
The concept of passthought represents a potentially reliable and secure alternative to traditional forms of authentication, such as passwords or biometric scans. It offers the advantage of being difficult to forge or replicate, as it is inherently tied to an individual's unique and unalterable brain activity.
The word "passthought" is a combination of two separate words: "pass" and "thought".
The word "pass" is derived from the Old French verb "passe(r)", meaning "to go through" or "to pass". It ultimately comes from the Latin word "passare", also meaning "to pass" or "to cross". Over time, the term "pass" has come to be used in various contexts related to authorization, like a password or a passcode.
The word "thought" originates from the Old English noun "thōht", which relates to the act of thinking or the product of mental activity. It has Germanic roots and is connected to the word "think".
Combining these two words, "passthought" suggests the idea of something that allows a person to pass or gain access based on their specific thought, usually used in the context of computer security or authentication systems.
