Brain–computer interface: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:14, 10 June 2025

Revision as of 00:35, 24 June 2025

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[[File:BrainGate.jpg|thumb|Dummy unit illustrating the design of a [[BrainGate]] interface]]

A '''brain–computer interface''' ('''BCI'''), sometimes called a '''brain–machine interface''' ('''BMI'''), is a direct communication link between the [[brain]]'s electrical activity and an external device, most commonly a computer or robotic limb. BCIs are often directed at researching, [[Brain mapping|mapping]], assisting, [[Augmented cognition|augmenting]], or repairing human [[Cognitive skill|cognitive]] or [[Sensory-motor coupling|sensory-motor functions]].<ref name="Krucoff 584">{{cite journal | vauthors = Krucoff MO, Rahimpour S, Slutzky MW, Edgerton VR, Turner DA | title = Enhancing Nervous System Recovery through Neurobiologics, Neural Interface Training, and Neurorehabilitation | journal = Frontiers in Neuroscience | volume = 10 | page = 584 |year=2016 | pmid = 28082858 | pmc = 5186786 | doi = 10.3389/fnins.2016.00584 | doi-access = free }}</ref> They are often conceptualized as a [[human–machine interface]] that skips the intermediary of moving body parts (e.g. hands or feet). BCI implementations range from non-invasive ([[EEG]], [[Magnetoencephalography|MEG]], [[MRI]]) and partially invasive ([[ECoG]] and endovascular) to invasive ([[microelectrode array]]), based on how physically close electrodes are to brain tissue.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Martini |first1=Michael L. |last2=Oermann |first2=Eric Karl |last3=Opie |first3=Nicholas L. |last4=Panov |first4=Fedor |last5=Oxley |first5=Thomas |last6=Yaeger |first6=Kurt |date=February 2020 |title=Sensor Modalities for Brain-Computer Interface Technology: A Comprehensive Literature Review |url=https://journals.lww.com/neurosurgery/abstract/2020/02000/sensor_modalities_for_brain_computer_interface.22.aspx |journal=Neurosurgery |language=en-US |volume=86 |issue=2 |pages=E108–E117 |doi=10.1093/neuros/nyz286 |pmid=31361011 |issn=0148-396X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Research on BCIs began in the 1970s by Jacques Vidal at the [[University of California, Los Angeles]] (UCLA) under a grant from the [[National Science Foundation]], followed by a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ([[DARPA]]).<ref name="Vidal1">{{cite journal | vauthors = Vidal JJ | title = Toward direct brain-computer communication | journal = Annual Review of Biophysics and Bioengineering | volume = 2 | issue = 1 | pages = 157–180 | year = 1973 | pmid = 4583653 | doi = 10.1146/annurev.bb.02.060173.001105 | doi-access = free }}</ref><ref name="Vidal2">{{cite journal| vauthors = Vidal J |title=Real-Time Detection of Brain Events in EEG|journal= Proceedings of the IEEE|year=1977|volume=65|pages=633–641|doi=10.1109/PROC.1977.10542|issue=5|s2cid=7928242}}</ref> Vidal's 1973 paper introduced the expression ''brain–computer interface'' into scientific literature.

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In a review article, authors wondered whether human information transfer rates can surpass that of language with BCIs. Language research has reported that information transfer rates are relatively constant across many languages. This may reflect the brain's information processing limit. Alternatively, this limit may be intrinsic to language itself, as a modality for information transfer.<ref name=":5">{{cite journal | vauthors = Pandarinath C, Bensmaia SJ | title = The science and engineering behind sensitized brain-controlled bionic hands | journal = Physiological Reviews | date = September 2021 | volume = 102 | issue = 2 | pages = 551–604 | pmid = 34541898 | doi = 10.1152/physrev.00034.2020 | pmc = 8742729 | s2cid = 237574228 }}</ref>

In 2023 two studies used BCIs with recurrent neural network to decode speech at a record rate of 62 words per minute and 78 words per minute.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Willett |first1=Francis R. |last2=Kunz |first2=Erin M. |last3=Fan |first3=Chaofei |last4=Avansino |first4=Donald T. |last5=Wilson |first5=Guy H. |last6=Choi |first6=Eun Young |last7=Kamdar |first7=Foram |last8=Glasser |first8=Matthew F. |last9=Hochberg |first9=Leigh R. |last10=Druckmann |first10=Shaul |last11=Shenoy |first11=Krishna V. |last12=Henderson |first12=Jaimie M. |date=2023-08-23 |title=A high-performance speech neuroprosthesis |journal=Nature |volume=620 |issue=7976 |language=en |pages=1031–1036 |doi=10.1038/s41586-023-06377-x |pmid=37612500 |pmc=10468393 |bibcode=2023Natur.620.1031W |issn=1476-4687}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Metzger |first1=Sean L. |last2=Littlejohn |first2=Kaylo T. |last3=Silva |first3=Alexander B. |last4=Moses |first4=David A. |last5=Seaton |first5=Margaret P. |last6=Wang |first6=Ran |last7=Dougherty |first7=Maximilian E. |last8=Liu |first8=Jessie R. |last9=Wu |first9=Peter |last10=Berger |first10=Michael A. |last11=Zhuravleva |first11=Inga |last12=Tu-Chan |first12=Adelyn |last13=Ganguly |first13=Karunesh |last14=Anumanchipalli |first14=Gopala K. |last15=Chang |first15=Edward F. |date=2023-08-23 |title=A high-performance neuroprosthesis for speech decoding and avatar control |journal=Nature |volume=620 |issue=7976 |language=en |pages=1037–1046 |doi=10.1038/s41586-023-06443-4 |pmid=37612505 |pmc=10826467 |bibcode=2023Natur.620.1037M |s2cid=261098775 |issn=1476-4687}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Naddaf |first=Miryam |date=2023-08-23 |title=Brain-reading devices allow paralysed people to talk using their thoughts |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02682-7 |journal=Nature |volume=620 |issue=7976 |pages=930–931 |language=en |doi=10.1038/d41586-023-02682-7|pmid=37612493 |bibcode=2023Natur.620..930N |s2cid=261099321 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==== Technical challenges ====

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==== Non-brain-based human–computer interface (physiological computing) ====

Human-computer interaction can exploit other recording modalities, such as [[electrooculography]] and eye-tracking. These modalities do not record brain activity and therefore do not qualify as BCIs.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fairclough |first=Stephen H. |date=January 2009 |title=Fundamentals of physiological computing |url=https://academic.oup.com/iwc/article-lookup/doi/10.1016/j.intcom.2008.10.011 |journal=Interacting with Computers |language=en |volume=21 |issue=1–2 |pages=133–145 |doi=10.1016/j.intcom.2008.10.011|s2cid=16314534 |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

=====Electrooculography (EOG)=====

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Concerns center on the safety and long-term effects on users. These include obtaining [[informed consent]] from individuals with communication difficulties, the impact on patients' and families' quality of life, health-related side effects, misuse of therapeutic applications, safety risks, and the non-reversible nature of some BCI-induced changes. Additionally, questions arise about access to maintenance, repair, and spare parts, particularly in the event of a company's bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paralyzed Again |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2015/04/09/168424/paralyzed-again/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=MIT Technology Review |language=en}}</ref>

The legal and social aspects of BCIs complicate mainstream adoption. Concerns include issues of accountability and responsibility, such as claims that BCI influence overrides free will and control over actions, inaccurate translation of cognitive intentions, personality changes resulting from deep-brain stimulation, and the blurring of the line between human and machine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gale - Product Login |url=https://galeapps.gale.com/apps/auth?userGroupName=nysl_ca_arg&sid=googleScholar&da=true&origURL=https%3A%2F%2Fgo.gale.com%2Fps%2Fi.do%3Fid%3DGALE%257CA594456959%26sid%3DgoogleScholar%26v%3D2.1%26it%3Dr%26linkaccess%3Dabs%26issn%3D00280836%26p%3DAONE%26sw%3Dw%26userGroupName%3Dnysl_ca_arg%26aty%3Dip&prodId=AONE |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=galeapps.gale.com}}</ref> Other concerns involve the use of BCIs in advanced interrogation techniques, unauthorized access ("brain hacking"),<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ienca |first1=Marcello |last2=Haselager |first2=Pim |date=June 2016 |title=Hacking the brain: brain-computer interfacing technology and the ethics of neurosecurity |url=https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10676-016-9398-9 |journal=Ethics & Information Technology |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=117–129 |doi=10.1007/s10676-016-9398-9 |s2cid=5132634|hdl=2066/157644 |hdl-access=free |url-access=subscription }}</ref> social stratification through selective enhancement, privacy issues related to mind-reading, tracking and "tagging" systems, and the potential for mind, movement, and emotion control.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Steinert |first1=Steffen |last2=Friedrich |first2=Orsolya |date=2020-02-01 |title=Wired Emotions: Ethical Issues of Affective Brain–Computer Interfaces |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-019-00087-2 |journal=Science and Engineering Ethics |language=en |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=351–367 |doi=10.1007/s11948-019-00087-2 |issn=1471-5546 |pmc=6978299 |pmid=30868377}}</ref>

In their current form, most BCIs are more akin to corrective therapies that engage few of such ethical issues. Bioethics is well-equipped to address the challenges posed by BCI technologies, with Clausen suggesting in 2009 that "BCIs pose ethical challenges, but these are conceptually similar to those that bioethicists have addressed for other realms of therapy."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Clausen |first=Jens |date=2009-02-01 |title=Man, machine and in between |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2009Natur.457.1080C |journal=Nature |volume=457 |issue=7233 |pages=1080–1081 |bibcode=2009Natur.457.1080C |doi=10.1038/4571080a |issn=0028-0836 |pmid=19242454 |s2cid=205043226}}</ref> Haselager and colleagues highlighted the importance of managing expectations and value.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Haselager |first1=Pim |last2=Vlek |first2=Rutger |last3=Hill |first3=Jeremy |last4=Nijboer |first4=Femke |date=2009-11-01 |title=A note on ethical aspects of BCI |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0893608009001531 |journal=Neural Networks |series=Brain-Machine Interface |volume=22 |issue=9 |pages=1352–1357 |doi=10.1016/j.neunet.2009.06.046 |issn=0893-6080 |pmid=19616405 |hdl-access=free |hdl=2066/77533}}</ref>