Science Popularization | What are the prospects of implanting brain computer interface devices into the human brain
2024-01-31
The American company Neuro Connect has just conducted its first human transplant of its brain computer interface device, which has attracted widespread attention. What is the technology of brain computer interface? What help can it bring to humanity? What are the progress and prospects of research and development? Renowned American entrepreneur Elon Musk announced on the 29th that his brain computer interface company, Neuro Connect, conducted the first human transplant of a brain computer interface device on the 28th, and the transplant recipient is currently recovering well. According to Musk, Neuro Connect's first brain computer interface product is called "telepathy". After the brain is implanted into a device, it can control phones and computers with just mind, and control almost all devices through them. The population who have lost limb function will be the first users of this product. Brain computer interface is a revolutionary human-computer interaction technology that works by collecting neural signals from the brain and analyzing them to convert them into specific instructions. Usually, human or animal brains rely on nerves and muscles to output commands to the external environment, and this technology can create direct connections between the brain and external devices, achieving direct information exchange between the brain and the machine. The important functions of brain computer interface devices include helping to treat memory decline, cervical spinal cord injury, and other neurological diseases, helping patients with motor dysfunction, paralyzed individuals recover some abilities, and even helping them walk again, improving and enhancing their quality of life. With the development of brain computer interface technology, its potential application scenarios in both medical and non medical fields are constantly expanding, including monitoring and evaluating brain status, regulating nerves, enhancing sensory abilities, improving game controllability, and being used in education, military, and other fields. At present, brain computer interface technology is divided into three categories based on whether it needs to invade the brain and the degree of invasion: non-invasive, invasive, and semi invasive. The products related to Neuro Connection Company are invasive. Musk said that preliminary results indicate that implanted brain computer interface devices have promising prospects for detecting neuronal related activities. The potential functionality of brain computer interface devices is powerful, but their safety in implanting into the human body has always been controversial and concerning. The implantation of electrodes through craniotomy carries a high risk, and foreign body invasion may also trigger immune reactions and form scar tissue, which may also affect the quality of electrode signal. To this end, Neuro Connect conducted animal experiments. In August 2020, Musk livestreamed an online demonstration of a pig whose brain was implanted into a brain computer interface device, and its brain activity signals could be read in real-time. The piglets that were implanted in the brain and then removed showed no significant difference in health compared to ordinary piglets. In 2021, there were reports that "Neuro Connect" company implanted a microchip into the monkey's brain, allowing it to play electronic games with its mind. Since 2019, Musk has repeatedly predicted that Neuro Connect will soon be approved to initiate human clinical trials. But it wasn't until May 2023 that the US Food and Drug Administration gave the green light for its human trials. In September of the same year, the company began recruiting participants for its first brain computer interface clinical trial. According to Neuroconnectivity, its research project is fully titled "Precision Robot Implantation Brain Computer Interface", which is a wireless brain computer that is fully implantable
Edit:Hou Wenzhe Responsible editor:WeiZe
Source:XinhuaNet
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