Source: Brain-Computer Interface | Mysteries of the Brain [1]
Written by Thanmay Kumar ‘27
Edited by Matthew Lam '27
Picture this: you send a message, move a robotic arm, or even control a drone—not with your hands, but with just a thought. What sounds like the stuff of science fiction is rapidly becoming our reality, thanks to Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs). These cutting-edge systems are turning thoughts into actions, and companies like Neuralink are at the helm, developing revolutionary implants that can read and interpret brain activity. Neuralink is currently developing a BCI to help quadriplegic patients control computers and other external devices through thoughts. Recently, the company took a major leap forward and earned FDA approval for human trials [2]. These steps and other research could bring us closer to a world where the power of your mind is enough to control technology. BCI Research that started as a way to help people with disabilities is now hinting at a future where our minds and machines work in perfect harmony, unlocking possibilities we’ve only dreamed of—until now [3,4].
Neuralink’s technology is based on their novel N1 chip: a tiny and powerful implant that taps into the brain’s neural network [2]. In a 2020 demonstration, Neuralink implanted this chip in a pig named Gertrude and explained how: “[i]t’s like a Fitbit in your skull with tiny wires.” It wasn’t just a science experiment—it was a proof of concept. When neurons pass information along, they generate electrical impulses in the surrounding extracellular environment. Specialized electrodes on the end of ultra-thin wires, implanted by a surgical robot, record the real-time changes in voltage in the extracellular medium that occur during those impulses [4]. BCI’s (including Neuralink) then train neural networks by recording brain activity while a patient performs a certain task. The neural network can then learn to recognize the task from electrical activity and, in real-time, interpret the brain’s electrical impulses and determine a person’s intent and act on that information on behalf of the person [3]. In other words, Neuralink and other BCI’s learn which patterns of electrical activity in the brain code for specific movements and use that to translate brain activity into precise actions.
While the initial goal of Neuralink and other BCI’s is mainly to assist people with neurological conditions, the long-term vision is much bigger: a future where human cognition, memory, and communication could be interconnected with the devices we use daily.
In August of 2023, Neuralink hit a major milestone: FDA approval for human trials. This was huge. It marked a shift from theory to application, showing that BCIs could soon be a reality for patients, and eventually, everyday users. We’re not just talking about restoring movement or vision, but potentially using thought alone to interact with the world.
A great example of this technology in action comes from a study published in Nature Neuroscience involving an individual who was paralyzed. Researchers helped the man “type” on a screen just by imagining he was handwriting [5]. Electrodes implanted in his brain recorded the signals related to hand movements, and the system translated those signals into text. Not only did the electrodes accurately record the text, they did it quickly: at an impressive speed of 90 characters per minute [5]. Over time, the BCI began to recognize and learn the neural patterns associated with specific letters [6]. Eventually, the interface was powerful and accurate enough to allow the man to type by thought alone.
Even today, the concept of these devices sounds almost too futuristic: flexible threads implanted into the brain, connected to a computer that reads neural activity and translates it into usable action. Neuralink’s long term vision is even more extreme: they hope their technology can act as a two-way street that will both decode brain signals but also send sensory information back to the brain and create a working connection between human thoughts and external devices. It’s clear that Neuralink’s advancements and technologies are just beginning to explore what is possible. Brain computer interfaces have the potential to change every part of daily life from restoring mobility for millions to revolutionizing day-to-day communications [7].
It’s not a question of if this technology will transform our lives—it’s only a matter of when.
References
Brain-Computer Interface | Mysteries of the Brain [Youtube]. 2015 [cited 2024 Sep]]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7t84lGE5TXA
Levy R, Taylor M, Sharma A, Levy R, Taylor M. Elon Musk’s Neuralink wins FDA approval for human study of brain implants. Reuters [Internet]. 2023 May 26 [cited 2024 Sep]; Available from: https://www.reuters.com/science/elon-musks-neuralink-gets-us-fda-approval-human-clinical-study-brain-implants-2023-05-25/
Kingwell K. Neurally controlled robotic arm enables tetraplegic patient to drink coffee of her own volition. Nat Rev Neurol. 2012 Jul;8(7):353–353.
Hochberg LR, Serruya MD, Friehs GM, Mukand JA, Saleh M, Caplan AH, et al. Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia. Nature. 2006 Jul;442(7099):164–71.
Willett FR, Avansino DT, Hochberg LR, Henderson JM, Shenoy KV. High-performance brain-to-text communication via handwriting. Nature. 2021 May;593(7858):249–54.
Balasubramanian S. Forbes. [cited 2024 Sep]. Brain Implant Enables Paralyzed Man To Type Using Only His Thoughts. Available from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/saibala/2021/05/15/brain-implant-enables-paralyzed-man-to-type-using-only-his-thoughts/
Bouton CE, Shaikhouni A, Annetta NV, Bockbrader MA, Friedenberg DA, Nielson DM, et al. Restoring cortical control of functional movement in a human with quadriplegia. Nature. 2016 May;533(7602):247–50.
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