Brain-Computer Interface – The Future is Now
Current State of Brain-Computer Interfaces
Seeing the hype surrounding “mind-reading technology” that came out of last month’s Consumer Electronics Show, and the excitement around Elon Musk’s surprise announcement on Twitter that the Neuralink brain chip will be tested in humans this year; made me think back to my undergraduate dissertation project, where I discussed the potential of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in prosthetics and to treat spinal cord injuries. I remember the last line of my dissertation remarked that these types of technologies could become routinely available in the next five to ten years!
Now, not even two years on, we’ve seen a rise in companies focusing on BCI in areas other than prosthetics, areas such as education, gaming, and smart home controls. A lot of my dissertation project explored establishing the appropriate computer neural connections, but there is definitely a shift toward wearable non-invasive devices for everyday use.
Brain-computer interfaces are devices that enable its user to interact with a computer by means of brain activity only. Brain activity can be measured via non-invasive techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG) which are sensors placed on the scalp surface or more invasive methods such as electrocorticography (ECoG) which involves electrodes placed on the surface of the brain.
For example, NexMind has a headset that measures activity in the visual cortex to translate the user’s visual intent into computer commands. The user can focus their eyes on a location on a screen to control different TV settings or perform certain selections to control the color of a lamp. NextMind is also exploring the potential of this device in the gaming industry, particularly when used in conjunction with virtual reality headsets. This device is not available to consumers yet, but NextMind is selling developer kits to encourage other companies to create new applications.
One device that is available to consumers is the FocusOne headset from BrainCo which measures brainwaves in the frontal cortex to determine the user’s level of focus. The headset comes with software and games to help the user to understand how to focus and meditate, and lights on the headset change color to indicate the different levels of focus detected. The developers see the potential of this device for use in schools, to help students to achieve and maintain their focus.
Last year, Neuralink introduced an ultra-thin flexible cortical mesh that can read and interact with individual neurons on the brain’s surface. The initial purpose of the device is to restore function for entire sections of the brain lost due to a stroke, accident, or congenital disease. Musk has said his long-term goal is to eventually have humans "merge" with
Potential for abuse?
It is very exciting to see these new technologies developing and becoming available to the consumer market. Exploring the non-clinical uses of BCI could prove financially beneficial, as a mass-market appeal of technologies usually drives down prices exponentially and encourages investment in the field - however, this brings certain ethical issues.
There is no secure protocol for amplification and transmission of biological signals wirelessly to these devices, which may leave the user vulnerable to cyber-attacks, fraudulent access, and theft of personal data. Not too long ago personal data from social media sites were used by companies such as Cambridge Analytica to send targeted posts and adverts.
In the age of personalized marketing, what’s to say recorded brain activity of an individual’s thoughts, emotions and intentions could not potentially provide data for marketing purposes. In light of this, the incorporation of “neurosecurity” techniques, the highest level of data encryption and legalization, would need to be put in place to protect and regulate the use of this highly sensitive personal data.
It is encouraging to see technology like the ones mentioned above, especially for me as a neuroscientist, but the real-life practical implications of these technologies must be discussed. If we are going to champion all the good of these mind-reading gadgets, we must also consider how these devices may be exploited and used for bad.
References
Musk E; Neuralink. An Integrated Brain-Machine Interface Platform with Thousands of Channels. J Med Internet Res. 2019;21(10):e 16194. Published 2019 Oct 31. doi:10.2196/16194. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6914248/
Boorstin, Julia. Mind-Reading Technology Lets You Control Tech with Your Brain – and it Actually Works. CNBC. Available from: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/10/ces-2020-mind-reading-technology-lets-you-control-gadgets-and-games.html
