It may sound as this news was taken directly out of a science fiction movie script but the reality is that brain computer interfaces (BCI) are one step closer to reality thanks to the combined efforts of many universities and research institutions working around the clock to make this possible. BCI chips developed by scientists have the ability to receive and decode brain waves (neuronal electrical activity), convert them from raw analog data to digital information, and relay this information to an external device such as a computer or a prosthetic robotic arm. In other words, BCI chips directly connects and translates your brain wave activity in order to control a computer or another device with only your mere thoughts.
These remarkable advances in neural prosthetics are a result of tireless and relentless decades of basic research with the end goal of developing and optimizing different BCI prototypes. As of today, a lot of the experimental research has been carried out in non-human primates such as Rhesus macaque monkeys and in other animal models such as mice and even in moths! With regards to using moths as a BCI model, Charles Higgins at the University of Arizona claimed to have been able to use moths containing tiny electrode implants to control robots via brain wave activity derived from the eye movements of moths. Moreover, several other studies have shown that monkeys with implantable BCIs are able to move a mechanical robotic arm to perform complex mechanical tasks by using only their thoughts! All this is possible by carrying out multiple trial and error sessions in which a positive outcome performed by a monkey that is strapped down to a chair is rewarded and reinforced with food.
Practical uses of BCI
The practical medical application of this technology is to allow human patients paralyzed by spinal cord injury or by a devastating neurodegenerative disease such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to write email or text messages on a computer, turn-on a television, grab the control remote or even grab food with the aid of a robotic arm controlled by an implantable brain computer interface.
How is this possible?
The key is to be able to translate the brain wave activity of the patient via the BCI implant, convert those thoughts from analog to digital information and send the information to an external device that translates this information into physical movement or perform a specific computer command.
BCI techniques
BCIs can either be non-invasive or invasive. Non-invasive BCIs include the use of an array of electrodes that are taped directly onto the scalp of an patient in a similar manner as a standard electroencephalogram (EEG) used to diagnose epilepsy. These EEG electrodes can sense and receive the electrical activity of large areas of the motor or frontal cortex of the brain, amplify, convert and relay the information to a computer to process a specific command or an external prosthetic limb. Although EEG electrodes are a practical and non-invasive way to connect the brain directly with computers, this method has serious disadvantages and is usually only reserved for basic research purposes only. A major issue is the rather low sensitivity and specificity of EEG electrodes for detecting specific brain activity over background noise, given that there is no direct contact of the electrodes with the brain tissue and their low resolution. In other words, EEG electrodes may interpret low brain wave activity in an inaccurate manner that may result in an undesired physical movement of a prosthetic arm or an unwanted computer command.
Another technique termed electrocorticography is a technique that uses craniotomy for transplanting electrodes just directly below the scalp of a person. This may involve transplanting an array of microelectrodes directly onto the brain tissue containing dozens of wires that protrude out of the scalp and that connect to an external device. However, both methods require extensive daily recalibration, and the equipment is very expensive and bulky. To overcome this problem, several research groups have developed implantable 16 channel amplifier wirelss brain chip interfaces that can send information efficiently and fast in a wireless manner with the minimal amount of equipment and calibration.
Instead of using bulky electrodes or microarrays, a tiny wireless BCI brain chip that is transplanted directly onto the brain tissue may be the best way to resolve sensitivity and specificity problems. Indeed, scientists at Intel's research lab in Pittsburgh have made significant strides in research progress by synthesizing different BCI chips that accurately sense and read human brain waves, amplify and convert the analog signal to digital information, and transmit these information in a wireless manner to an external device. For instance, the final processed broadband neural activity is transmitted to a television set to change channels, type words on a computer monitor without the aid of a keyboard or even operate a cell phone in a “hands-free” manner.
The other monumental barrier that the Pittsburgh researchers must overcome is to be able to accurately decode specific brain waves and spikes detected by an implantable BCI in a reliable manner. To get to that point, the collaborative efforts of Intel, University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University are working around the clock to decode human brain waves in order to come up with a large repository of common brain wave patterns that are associated with specific thoughts. In other words, this is analogous to compiling a dictionary for a new language since it is believed that each brain wave pattern is associated with a specific brain thought. In addition to recording of brain waves, scientists are also using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging machines to associate blood flow rates and specific active areas of the brain with specific thoughts. However, it is not clear how combining both fMRI and EEG data simultaneously in order to translate it to specific movement or physical action will take years and we may not be able to come up with a standardized translation of many brain wave patterns for the following reasons:
1. Without additional research being performed in a bigger population of human subjects, is may be a bit premature to think that all human beings share common patterns of brain waves that translates into a common image, word or thought. Although there are similar patterns of frequency, spiking, and amplitude of brain waves that are associated with a specific thought, there may be some trivial differences from person to person that may account for an inaccurate and cumbersome translation by an implantable wireless BCI.
2. Secondly, different people may have different brain pathologies such as reduced cortical blood flow or impaired brain wave activity in different populations of neurons which may make the prevent them from using a BCI chip. One obvious disadvantage is people that that have sustained either a large stroke or transient ischemic strokes in different areas of the motor and frontal cortex may not qualify for this technology. In addition, paralyzed patients that also show mild manifestations of Schizophrenia, a disease that causes reduced blood flow at the frontal cortex, may be unlikely candidates for receiving BCI implants.
3. Unless you are someone who has been paralyzed and want to improve your quality of life, not everyone likes the idea of having an BCI chip implanted on their brains for the convenience of circumventing the use of a computer keyboard to type words or browse the internet. It is conceivable that a highly sensitive non-invasive BCI wireless chip may be clipped onto the skull in a similar manner to a BlueTooth device.
Final thoughts- The best solution for the efficient design and development of implantable BCI chips that successfully decode "most" brain wave patterns will have to be specifically developed for each patient in a “prescriptive” manner. Although there is no doubt that basic research shows that common brain wave patterns associated with a specific thought are shared among individuals, not everyone process every thought the same way at any given time. One way to tackle this problem is to create a neural learning algorithm that allows a user to calibrate and teach BCI chips to acquire and store specific brain wave patterns that are only unique to a patient. In order words, specific brain wave patterns associated with a patient may be stored in a BCI chip that already contains a "dictionary" of common brain wave patterns in order to maximize the efficiency and reliability of brain interfaces.
For more information click on the following information:
Original press release of wireless BCI:
http://www.computerworlduk.com/technology/hardware/windows-linux/news/index.cfm?newsid=17689
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