Brain–computer interface: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 01:04, 25 June 2005

Revision as of 10:20, 28 June 2005

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A '''brain-computer interface''' (BCI) or '''direct neural interface''' is literally a direct technological interface between a [[brain]] and a [[computer]] not requiring any motor output from the user. That is, neural impulses in the brain are intercepted and used to control an electronic device. This is a rather broad, ill-defined term used to describe many versions of conventional and theoretical interfaces. For purposes of this term, the word 'brain' is understood to imply the physical brain of an [[organism|organic life form]] and 'computer' is understood to imply a mechanical/technological processing/computational device. These semantic notations are crucial in the contemplation of a direct brain-computer interface, as there is great debate in the [[philosophy of mind]] regarding the reduction of [[consciousness]] and [[mind]] to the physical qualities of the brain.

==Neuroprosthetics==

==BCI foundations==

{{main|neuroprosthetics}}

[[Image:BCI.jpg|thumb|right|Example of a BCI]]

Many versions ofSimple brain-computer interfaces already exist in the form of [[neuroprosthetics]], with a great deal of [[neuroscience]], [[robotics]], and [[computer science]] research currently dedicated to furthering these technologies. [[Brain imaging#Practical achievements of functional brain imaging|Recent achievements]] demonstrate that it is currently possible to implement crude brain-computer interfaces ([[brain dish]]es) that allow <i>[[in vitro]]</i> neuronal clusters to directly control computers. [[Miguel Nicolelis]] has also used the [[vector sum]] of [[motor cortex|motor cortical neuron]] spiking - recorded directly from the [[cortex]] of monkeys - as a BCI. This design allowed a monkey to navigate a computer cursor on screen simply by thinking about moving the cursor, without any motor output from the monkey.

==Human BCI research==

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Direct neural interface devices were the prominent feature of the popular [[The Matrix|Matrix]] film series, wherein humanity was enslaved by artificially intelligent [[robots]] in a [[virtual world]] piped directly into people's brains. These interfaces are an extremely common element of [[cyberpunk]] fiction, often characterised as "control of hardware at speed of thought". In the ''meme wars'' novels of John Barnes, direct mind-computer interface permits the emergence of a hegemonic collective mind called [[One True]].

Brain-computer interfacing is a particularly notable feature of:

* ''[[Neuromancer]]'' by [[William Gibson]]

* the "[[The Culture|Culture]]" novels and stories of [[Iain M. Banks]]

* ''[[Gridlinked]]'' by [[Neal Asher]]

* ''[[Altered Carbon]]'' by [[Richard Morgan]]

== See also ==