The use of brain-computer interfaces in neurological rehabilitation (the doctor-aided process that aims to help individuals with nervous system disorders, injuries or diseases) can help improve an individual’s ability to navigate through day-to-day experiences. BCIs are often used for rehabilitation after stroke or injury.
Full Answer
What is a brain interface and how does it work?
Brain computer interfaces have been providing, and will continue to provide, critical applications in medicine. They can help people with paralysis, amputation, and a host of neurological disorders...
What is a brain-computer interface in neurological rehabilitation?
BMIs, also called brain computer interfaces, provide a direct link between the brain and a computer, usually to control an external device.
Is brain–computer interface monitoring and implementation invasive?
A brain-computer interface (BCI) is a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. The idea of BCI was first conceptualized by Leonardo da Vinci in 1590, but it wasn’t until recently that scientists have made any real headway in developing a working model for one. In recent years, with improvements in brain imaging technology, computer processing …
What is brain computer interface (BCI)?
Brain-Computer Interface. A brain–computer interface (BCI) is a system that measures activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and converts it into artificial output that replaces, restores, enhances, supplements, or improves natural CNS output, and thereby changes the ongoing interactions between the CNS and its external or internal environment.
What is the history of BCIs?
Although brain computer interfaces sound futuristic, iterations of the technology have been researched and practiced for decades. Electroconvulsi...
How do BCIs work?
There are many versions of BCI technology ; information can be delivered to or extracted from the brain. When thinking about prosthetics, for exam...
Are BCIs invasive?
There are both invasive and noninvasive BCI technologies. BCIs that control prosthetic limbs or identify and treat seizures, for example, operate v...
Are there ethical concerns about BCIs?
The emergence of BCIs has raised plenty of ethical questions, around topics such as autonomy and agency, privacy and security, consent, equity,...
What disorders could BCIs help treat?
BCIs have applications for any condition that involves movement or communication impairments, because the interface could signal their intentions...
What are some examples of new BCI applications?
In one recent study, researchers used artificial intelligence to create a system that reads a person’s brain signals and generates novel images...
What is Neuralink?
One notable company working on brain interfaces is Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk and others in 2016. The company is developing interfaces to trea...
What other companies are developing BCIs?
Many companies have entered the BCI space, including Kernel, Neurable, Emotiv, Cognixion, Paradromics, Halo Neuroscience, MindMaze, Q30 Innovatio...
Is the BCI industry growing?
The brain computer interface industry is an emerging market that is growing quickly. By 2022, the BCI market will increase to $1.72 billion globa...
What is the brain-computer interface?
A brain–computer interface (BCI) is a system that measures activity of the central nervous system (CNS) and converts it into artificial output that replaces, restores, enhances, supplements, or improves natural CNS output, and thereby changes the ongoing interactions between the CNS and its external or internal environment.
What is BCI in paralysis?
BCIs when combined with other restorative technologies ultimately have the potential to restore cortically commanded natural movements of paralyzed limbs, and even sensation, to persons with chronic paralysis. While a recent study ( Ajiboye et al., 2017) successfully restored coordinated multijoint arm movements to a person with paralysis, this used a simple, limited, percutaneous FES approach to demonstrate the basic feasibility of BCI-controlled FES. Future implementation of such BCI-controlled FES using newer generations of implanted FES systems will undoubtedly lead to significantly improved movement performance. Current human BCI applications also focus on motor functional exclusively, meaning that potential users are limited to vision alone for sensory feedback. A limited number of human studies have recently begun to investigate direct microstimulation of the somatosensory cortex using intracortical electrode technology, and report the ability to restore sensations of touch from various parts of the hand ( Flesher et al., 2016 ). Overall, utilizing currently available advanced FES systems, employing advances in recording electrode technologies, deploying implanted recording hardware, and implementing cortical sensory stimulation techniques (all under intense study and development) will allow naturalistic coordinated multijoint arm and hand movements. Ultimately, the combination of invasive BCI technology with fully implanted FES technology ( Fig. 27.4 ), such as the Networked Neural Prosthesis ( Kilgore, 2013 ), will allow such systems to be clinically translated into day-to-day use.
What are the advances in BCI?
As pointed out earlier, all of the human investigational iBCI studies as of this writing employ the same neural interface, providing a valuable database of human neural interface knowledge not yet amalgamated. But the literature already published is very supportive that BCIs in many forms with many uses are feasible, including for reanimation of the limbs with a fully implanted system. It is encouraging that proof of concept for useful BCIs has been obtained for people with longstanding stroke and SCI, and with ALS. BCI progress reflects the emergence of neuroscience translation programs successfully integrating many areas of expertise. The accomplishments of the BCI field are built on a body of fundamental neuroscience, enabled by technology advances, and focused by clinicians who understand the need and potential benefit to end users. At this point it is worth reflecting further on why the current devices are not better, to help focus the next decades’ efforts on creating a suite of useful BCIs with real impact. Here, I have pointed out that BCI advances are hindered by gaps in neuroscience knowledge, computational approaches, and technology. The two major issues are the lack of a reliable, stable, long-lasting interface suitable for humans and a better understanding of neural coding principles to serve as a guide to generate a rich and flexible, continuous stream of commands. IBCI improvements are also hindered by the lack of a field-wide definition of a set of BCI goals. Identification of both realistic and visionary goals requires not only science and engineering but also ongoing input from clinicians and regulatory experts to guide teams through clinical trial best practices and procedures. Development of very complex devices like an iBCI also requires regular interactions with medical device specialists aware of the complexities of commercial product development. BCIs will need acceptance for reimbursement within the health care system, not something that is ordinarily considered in research teams. Most importantly, and especially for implantable devices, BCIs must be designed to meet user needs. One cannot neglect the ELSI of BCIs. Successfully restoring high-quality movement or reliable communication to an otherwise dependent person has an impact on caregiver roles, employment, and social needs. ELSI for neurotechnology are already in discussion. As it becomes possible to augment, rather than restore function, BCIs will need thoughtful legal oversight based on sound ethical guidelines ( Clausen et al., 2017 ).
What is BCI research?
These new methods have enabled BCI systems to be used in research focused on restoring lost function in disabled users , including the first demonstration of hand movement restoration in a quadriplegic human. If these methods can be effective for signals originating in the brain, then why cannot they also be utilized in other parts of the nervous system? In this application area, decoded peripheral nerve signals could be used to estimate or even predict decline of various bodily functions or overall health. This might in the future provide a warning system or a way to perform real-time diagnostics, letting a person know when they need to see a doctor and better inform the doctor at the appointment.
What is brain interfacing?
Brain–computer interfacing is an emerging technology that connects a brain with external devices, providing a new output channel for brain signals to communicate with or control such devices without the use of natural neuromuscular pathways. A brain–computer interface (BCI) recognizes the intent of the user through brain signals, decodes neural activity, and translates it into output commands that accomplish the user’s goal. BCI technology has the potential to restore lost or impaired functions of people severely disabled by various devastating neuromuscular disorders or spinal cord damage, and to enhance or augment functions in healthy individuals. Various brain signals have been used as the basis for decoding user intent in BCI research, ranging from direct neuronal recordings using implanted electrodes to noninvasive recordings such as scalp electroencephalogram (EEG).
What is plugged in terminal man?
The plugged-in terminal man is a mainstay of futuristic scientific fiction. Currently interface systems can access, utilize, and adjust the constituents of our body’s fluid reservoirs, providing real-time intravenous and interthecal chemical adjustments able to affect both physical and mental functioning. Prominent examples include glucose monitoring and adjustment of insulin dosages in type I diabetics, and medications for the treatment of intractable pain. Neurochemically psychoactive drugs such as opiates can be injected into serum or interthecally into spinal fluids in order to alter waking and sleeping behaviors.
What is the BMI in neuroscience?
The term brain-machine interface (BMI)--or, equivalently, brain-computer interface (BCI)--is largely reserved for the latter approaches. In other words, a brain-machine interface is a neuroprosthetic ...
What is a BMI?
The term brain-machine interface (BMI)--or, equivalently, brain-computer interface (BCI)--is largely reserved for the latter approaches. In other words, a brain-machine interface is a neuroprosthetic system able to directly convey commands to the external world circumventing the conventional neuromuscular pathways.
How many quadriplegics are there in the US?
Because it is estimated there are more than 100,000 quadriplegic patients in the United States alone, the need for an effective brain-machine interface for these patients, not to mention the larger number of patients with nervous system disorders ranging from depression to epilepsy to Parkinson disease, is quite large.
What is the brain-machine interface?
• The brain-machine interface is the communication link between biology and technology, ie, the translation of brain electrical and chemical activity into information that can then be “computed” in order to feed information back to the brain in order to correct a brain disorder or replace lost function.
What are neuroprostheses used for?
Some neuroprostheses serve as artificial sensory inputs , eg, cochlear or retinal prostheses. Others may serve as modulators of brain activity to improve or correct motor function, eg, deep-brain stimulation for Parkinson disease, dystonia, essential tremor, and other motor disorders.
What are some examples of brain-computer interfaces?
Here are some of the most common brain-computer interface examples in use today: 1 Neuroscience 2 Military 3 Medicine 4 Rescue/disaster management 5 Security 6 Education 7 Rehabilitation
How does EEG work?
Scientists can detect those signals and interpret what they mean by using electroencephalography (EEG) technology. EEG can read signals from the human brain and send them to amplifiers. The amplified signals are then interpreted by a BCI computer program which uses the signals to control a device.
What is a BCI?
A BCI can also be called a brain-machine interface, a neural-control interface, a mind-machine interface or a direct neural interface. A BCI allows for direct communication between the brain and an external device, often to control its activity. BCIs read signals from the brain and use machine learning algorithms to translate ...
What is an EEG based BCI?
EEG-based BCI are characterized by the technique of using non-invasive EEG electrodes to measure brain activity and translate the recorded brain signals into commands. BCIs detect changes in brain activity measured through an EEG. BCI technologies then relay these signals to machine learning algorithms.
What is BCI research?
BCI research (also called brain-machine interface research) represents a rapidly growing field. Academic researchers have studied whether BCI users can directly interact with computer software through brain activity alone: one study tested a BCI system on its ability to detect and classify brain activity with its paired mental actions. Results found the system could perform all mental actions successfully and improved with additional training data.
Why is BCI important?
Because of its ability to manipulate external devices through brain activity, a large portion of brain-computer interface research focuses on remote control. BCI researchers have also used humanoid robots controlled by BCI devices to manipulate a remote environment. The BCI enables the user to conveniently control the robot in ...
What is BCI in neuroscience?
BCI is being used to study how specific tissue systems respond to electrical stimulation and what that could mean at the cognitive level.
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Overview
Human BCI research
Invasive BCI requires surgery to implant electrodes under scalp for communicating brain signals. The main advantage is to provide more accurate reading; however, its downside includes side effects from the surgery. After the surgery, scar tissues may form which can make brain signals weaker. In addition, according to the research of Abdulkader et al., (2015), the body may …
History
The history of brain–computer interfaces (BCIs) starts with Hans Berger's discovery of the electrical activity of the human brain and the development of electroencephalography (EEG). In 1924 Berger was the first to record human brain activity by means of EEG. Berger was able to identify oscillatory activity, such as Berger's wave or the alpha wave (8–13 Hz), by analyzing EEG traces.
BCIs versus neuroprosthetics
Neuroprosthetics is an area of neuroscience concerned with neural prostheses, that is, using artificial devices to replace the function of impaired nervous systems and brain-related problems, or of sensory organs or organs itself (bladder, diaphragm, etc.). As of December 2010, cochlear implants had been implanted as neuroprosthetic device in approximately 220,000 people worldwide. There are also several neuroprosthetic devices that aim to restore vision, including re…
Animal BCI research
Several laboratories have managed to record signals from monkey and rat cerebral cortices to operate BCIs to produce movement. Monkeys have navigated computer cursorson screen and commanded robotic arms to perform simple tasks simply by thinking about the task and seeing the visual feedback, but without any motor output. In May 2008 photographs that showed a monke…
Cell-culture BCIs
Researchers have built devices to interface with neural cells and entire neural networks in cultures outside animals. As well as furthering research on animal implantable devices, experiments on cultured neural tissue have focused on building problem-solving networks, constructing basic computers and manipulating robotic devices. Research into techniques for stimulating and recording from individual neurons grown on semiconductor chips is sometimes referred to as n…
Collaborative BCIs
The idea of combining/integrating brain signals from multiple individuals was introduced at Humanity+ @Caltech, in December 2010, by a Caltech researcher at JPL, Adrian Stoica; Stoica referred to the concept as multi-brain aggregation. A provisional patent application was filed on January 19, 2011, with the non-provisional patent following one year later. In May 2011, Yijun Wang and Tzyy-Ping Jung published, “A Collaborative Brain-Computer Interface for Improving H…
Ethical considerations
Sources:
• Long-term effects to the user remain largely unknown.
• Obtaining informed consent from people who have difficulty communicating.
• The consequences of BCI technology for the quality of life of patients and their families.