Many versions of brain-computer interfaces already exist, with a great deal of [[neuroscience]], [[robotics]], and [[computer science]] research currently dedicated to furthingfurthering 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==
There have also been experiments in humans utilizing modern invasive and [[non-invasive (medical)|non-invasive]] [[brain imaging]] technologies as interfaces. The most commonly studied potential interface for humans has been [[electroencephalography]] (EEG), mainly due to its fine temporal resolution, ease of use, portability, and cost of set-up. However practical use of EEG as a BCI requires a great deal of user training and is highly susceptablesusceptible to noise. [[Magnetoencephalography]] (MEG) and even [[functional magnetic resonance imaging]] (fMRI) have both been used sucessfullysuccessfully as rudimentary BCIs, in the latter case allowing two users being scanned in real-time to play [[Pong]] against one another by altering their [[haemodynamic response]] through various [[biofeedback]] techniques.
==Practical BCIs==
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== Theme in fiction==
Direct neural interface devices were the prominantprominent 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]].
