Scientists are developing a way to control gadgets with the power of thought. A few days ago, a technology was presented that recognizes neural signals not through direct contact with the gray matter, but through the blood vessels.
Previously, it was assumed that connecting "external control" in the brain is possible only with the help of invasive implants. But it is obvious that such manipulations are dangerous and can easily damage brain tissue.
Synchrone has come up with a new approach. In their scheme, neurocomputer communication is carried out through the jugular vein. The technology does not require surgery and implantation of implants directly into the human brain. Scientists have found a way to get by with little blood - both literally and figuratively. The implant placed in the bloodstream reads and recognizes the signals from the brain. These, in turn, are transmitted to a computer via an infrared transmitter surgically inserted into the participants' chest.
The innovative approach is already being applied in practice, Australian and American scientists have shared the first results. They described how the technology affected two patients with amyotrophic sclerosis. ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease, leads to paralysis and muscle atrophy, and with the help of implants they learned how to type text messages and use the Internet. Synchrone CEO Thomas Oxley jokingly called the technology "plug-and-play."
The volunteers did not manage to master the management of the implant right away. The patients returned home and learned new skills for several weeks. The electrodes picked up the signals, but the machine learning algorithm responsible for the interpretation was initially unable to interpret them correctly. A few weeks later, they learned how to use an eye tracker, move the cursor and select the desired object on the screen with a mouse click. The signal captured by the implant does not contain information as such. It's just 1 bit of data: click or not. Patients can now shop online on their own and improve their quality of life in general.
The device has not yet been approved for mass use, and it has not yet passed clinical trials. Synchrone is seeking additional funding to carry out the required tests and trials.
Telekinesis from Elon Musk
Synchrone is not the only company doing research in this direction. Neuralink , a startup by Elon Musk, showed a wireless implant with 1,024 flexible electrodes. Implant electrodes receive electrical signals directly from neurons. The technology in the future will allow a person to wirelessly transmit neuroelectric activity to any technological environment: from limb prostheses to driving a Tesla car and various cloud services.
It is assumed that the implant will be implanted into the brain by a robotic surgeon. It is already known that the brain resists any interference and activates defense mechanisms. It covers the flexible electrodes with a layer of glialcells, which reduces the electrical conductivity of the contacts. In addition, the brain is similar in structure to jelly, and static electrodes can damage it during movement.
At the presentation of Neuralink, Elon Musk said that the prototype consists of motion, temperature and pressure sensors. So far, the chip has been tested on a pig brain. Now developers are looking for materials that will not cause a protective reaction in the brain. If all goes to plan, the technology will be a colossal breakthrough in the neurocomputer industry.
