By Bernd van Ruremonde
Introduction
Approximately 12 years ago, in 2012, I had my first encounter with the then relatively small Marvel Cinematic Universe: I finally saw the movie Iron Man. Aside from the impact this film (and all the ones that followed) had on me as a person, I believe it was one of the first times I truly formed an interest in artificial and natural intelligence. Like many kids, I wanted a JARVIS. Of course, the closest thing we had was a voice assistant like Siri or Alexa. Even more interesting to me was how Tony seemingly controlled his suit without any concrete inputs. Ever since then, I’ve been obsessed with neuroscience and brain-computing interfacing, though breakthroughs in this field had always seemed equivalent to something like faster-than-light travel: something science-fiction, something I wouldn’t experience in my lifetime. And yet, a mind-controlled Iron Man-esque suit is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality. Let me take you on a journey through the world of Brain-Computing Interfacing, or BCI for short.
History and Evolution
While the term ‘Brain-Computer Interfacing’ was first coined by computer scientist Jacques Vidal (1973) in his paper “Toward Direct Brain-Computer Communication”, the foundation of this field was laid almost 50 years prior, in 1924. German psychiatrist and neuroscientist Hans Berger was the first person to make an electroencephalogram (EEG) of the human brain, a non-invasive way of measuring brain activity (Ince et al., 2020). This technique formed the very basis of brain-computer interfacing. Initially, however, computing power limited EEG to ‘off-line’ use, or after the fact. Vidal revolutionised this technique by proposing an ‘on-line’ use, enabling real-time measuring of brain signals while participants were performing tasks. This discovery allowed him to develop rudimentary BCI systems which allowed participants to control very simple devices using just EEG signals.
Jumping ahead another three decades, the company BrainGate reached a significant milestone in the field of BCI (Brower, 2005). Their technology, focused on patients with severe paralysis, consisted of a small sensor implanted in the motor cortex of the brain. It read the neural activity in the area and sent it to a computer to be decoded and translated into commands, used to control a digital cursor, robotic arm, or other devices. It marked a breakthrough in BCI research, showcasing the advancements and developments in neural recording and decoding.
Recent Developments
Even in more recent times, the field of BCI is undergoing rapid developments. One groundbreaking example is the work of Gregoire Courtine and his team in 2023, who developed a Brain-Spine Interface for a man with a chronic spinal cord injury. This innovative technology, described in a study published in Nature (Lorach et al., 2023), essentially created a "digital bridge" between the patient's brain and spinal cord. Implanted electrodes in the man's brain translated his intentions to move into electrical signals, which were then transmitted to the spinal cord via a wireless system. This allowed him to regain control over his lower limbs, enabling him to walk again. This remarkable achievement not only demonstrates the potential of BCI to address neurological conditions but also offers hope for millions of people living with paralysis, who may one day regain lost mobility through similar technologies.
Future Directions
With all this evolution, it's hard to imagine the possibilities the future holds for BCI. One particularly ambitious project is Elon Musk's Neuralink, an implantable BCI that aims to create a direct link between the human brain and artificial intelligence (Fiani et al., 2021). Neuralink's goal is nothing short of merging human cognitive abilities with the limitless potential of artificial intelligence, possibly unlocking new frontiers in communication, learning, and problem-solving. While only recently having started human trials, Neuralink has already made significant progress, developing devices that are remarkably small and sophisticated as compared to other technologies. These devices, consisting of tiny threads with electrodes, are designed to be implanted in the brain with minimal invasiveness. While the initial focus is on treating neurological conditions like Parkinson's disease and epilepsy, Neuralink envisions a future where their technology could enhance human capabilities across various domains, potentially leading to a profound shift in the relationship between humans and machines.
Ethical Issues
However, the rapid advancements in the field are not without issue. Aside from BCIs providing technical challenges, they also raise ethical concerns. The lines between man and machine can start to get blurred, and the question of privacy is more relevant than ever with electrodes being able to read your every thought. And while BCIs are currently focussed on just retrieving intentions, what happens when they start sending their own intentions? While it is difficult to imagine, one day the devices might reach the capability to control us, instead of the other way around. That is something that we must be prepared to deal with.
While often intended as jokes, online communities are expressing their fear for Neuralink in particular. Through memes and short-form videos, they talk about the possibility of the devices some day showing advertisements in their brains, or the possibility of their brains being hacked remotely. Though they are formatted as humorous or satire, they often contain a core of truth, demonstrating the implicit fear that people have for BCIs.
What’s next?
We’ve come a long way since Berger’s first electroencephalogram. Time after time, scientists and researchers have shown that the future of this beautiful field is beyond our wildest imaginations, even after BrainGate’s rapid advancement in the field.
All in all, we are still far away from a fully automatic Iron Man suit, even with all these advancements. And honestly, it might not be a bad thing. Allowing time for regulations and ethical consideration can bring tremendous benefit to the field in the long run. And while many people are scared of being brain-washed or mind-controlled, I’m super excited to see what the future of BCIs will bring.
Bibliography
Brower, V. (2005). When mind meets machine. EMBO Reports, 6(2), 108–110. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.embor.7400344
Fiani, B., Reardon, T., Ayres, B., Cline, D., & Sitto, S. R. (2021). An examination of prospective uses and future directions of Neuralink: the Brain-Machine Interface. Curēus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.14192
İnce, R., Adanır, S. S., & Sevmez, F. (2020). The inventor of electroencephalography (EEG): Hans Berger (1873–1941). Child’s Nervous System, 37(9), 2723–2724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-020-04564-z
Lorach, H., Galvez, A., Spagnolo, V., Martel, F., Karakas, S., Intering, N., Vat, M., Faivre, O., Harte, C., Komi, S., Ravier, J., Collin, T., Coquoz, L., Sakr, I., Baaklini, E., Hernandez-Charpak, S. D., Dumont, G., Buschman, R., Buse, N., . . . Courtine, G. (2023). Walking naturally after spinal cord injury using a brain–spine interface. Nature, 618(7963), 126–133. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06094-5
Vidal, J. J. (1973). Toward direct Brain-Computer communication. Annual Review of Biophysics and Bioengineering, 2(1), 157–180. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.bb.02.060173.001105
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