Will Brain-Computer Interfaces Turn Us Into Robots? Not Exactly.

The name brain-computer interfaces seem ambiguous. Is it computer science? Is it robotics? Does it have something to do with the brain, considering the name? Well, let me clear it up for you.

A brain-computer interface (BCI) is the communication between a computer and a wired brain. It can be used as a neuroprosthetic for damaged or missing nerves as well BUT there is a stark contrast between BCIs and neuroprosthetics: BCIs refer to the communication between a wired brain and computer whereas neuroprosthetics refer to the communication between a wired brain and an external device (such as a prosthetic).

The purpose of a BCI is to detect brain signals that have the intent to accomplish a task, these brain signals will then become translated into the external device which would then carry out the job.

There are two types of BCIs:

• Invasive systems — BCIs that have hardware that is in direct contact with the brain, most likely touching an actual brain and involves brain surgery!
• Non-invasive systems — BCIs that use hardware connected to the scalp with head-worn sensors.

What are these “brain signals” that we’re talking about?

Those “brain signals” refer to the electrical impulses that run through our body when thoughts are transmitted within our brain. As stated above, a BCI would use translate these brain signals into something a software can understand. But this isn’t anything new, doctors have been using electroencephalography (EEG) to find nerve problems by looking at the activity of the electrical impulses, asking: “does the graph of the electrical impulses display an abnormality compared to properly functioning electrical impulses?”.

The amount of problems BCIs would be able to cure is astronomical — from blindness to paralyzation.

A Company Spotlight: Neuralink

Neuralink, a futuristic neurotechnology company, claims to be the first to attempt communication and connection between the mind and external devices. Through this, they hope to continue to advance their technology in such a way that even blindness can be cured.

Founded in 2016 by Elon Musk, Ben Rapoport, Dongjin Seo, Max Hodak, Paul Merolla, Philip Sabes, Tim Gardner, Tim Hanson, and Vanessa Tolosa, Neuralink’s project focuses on developing an implant that can be placed in the brain and connected to an external device. We call these Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). Their ideal vision is to insert a chip in your brain with the outcome of solving spine or brain problems. If this project becomes successful, it will allow scientists to study the electrical signals in the brain which can aid the process to finding a cure of many medical conditions such as blindness and insomnia.

How plausible is this? Well, unfortunately we don’t know yet. Brain implementations have always been a concept that was widely tested among scientists, stemming back in the 1990s where scientists would probe paralyzed people in an attempt to un-paralyze them. During Elon Musk’s real time demonstration held on August 28, he made sure not to suggest any dates on when Neuralink will proceed forward with human subject testing. We’ll probably see Neuralink’s success in a few decades, but not anytime soon.

During the live demonstration of Neuralink, Elon presented a small disk called “the Link” which had computer chips that had the ability to transmit signals that were noted by electrodes. The use of electrodes would be to produce electrical pulses that would regulate any abnormal brain pulses or strategically affect the chemicals in the brain to produce the ideal result. Recording the electrodes would be beneficial as the Link will be able to send out the same signals, but directly to the brain.

The Link would have to be charged every night through a wireless induction coil. Elon also emphasized how the disk would not be noticeable for those wearing it, so they wouldn’t stand out in a crowd for problems they couldn’t control.

Neuralink has been approved by the FDA, but no human subject testing will be involved just yet. Currently, Neuralink is working on rodents and pigs to perform trial and error experiments to make sure this brain implementation isn’t only successful, but safe.

Are we finally seeing the beginning of the future?