Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) to Enable Movement in People with Paralysis

Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology

Context

• Researchers from the University of California, have developed a new brain-computer interface that enables movement for people who are paralysed.

What is a Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)?

• A Brain-Computer Interface is a direct communication pathway between the brain’s electrical activity and an external device. 
• Typically, BCIs are used to assist, augment, or repair human cognitive or sensory-motor functions. 
• In this case, the BCI records signals from the brain’s motor cortex—the area responsible for movement—and decodes them using artificial intelligence to operate robotic limbs.

Types of BCIs

• Invasive BCI: The devices are surgically implanted into the brain to directly interact with the nervous system, enabling communication and control between the brain and external devices.
  • It offers the most accurate signals; used in cases of paralysis or locked-in syndrome.
  • Example: Neuralink’s Blindsight
• Partially Invasive BCI: The devices are implanted within the skull but rest outside the brain, typically on the dura mater, a membrane surrounding the brain.
  • They are used to record electrical signals from the brain’s surface using techniques like electrocorticography (ECoG).
• Non-Invasive BCI: These are systems that allow users to interact with external devices (like computers or robots) using their thoughts, without the need for surgery.
  • They typically use external sensors like EEG electrodes to detect brain signals, making them safer and more accessible than invasive BCIs.

Applications of BCIs

• Medical and Rehabilitation: 
  • Assistive Devices: Control of wheelchairs, robotic arms, or computer cursors by people with paralysis.
  • Neurorehabilitation: Post-stroke motor recovery by training brain pathways through BCIs.
  • Prosthetic Control: Artificial limbs operated via brain signals.
• Education and Training:
  • Attention Monitoring: In classrooms to track student engagement.
  • Skill Development: Feedback on focus or brain activity while learning complex tasks.
• Industry and Automation:
  • BCI in Human-Robot Interaction: Enhancing collaborative robots in factories.
  • Hands-Free Control in Hazardous Work: For miners or chemical plant workers where hands are occupied.

Concerns Associated with BCIs

• Privacy: There is a significant risk of misuse of neural data collected through BCIs, as these systems can potentially access sensitive thoughts, intentions, or emotions of individuals.
• Digital Divide: High costs and technological complexity of BCI systems could widen the digital divide, leaving marginalized groups without access to these life-changing innovations.
• Mental Autonomy: There are concerns that prolonged use of BCIs might alter brain function or reduce an individual’s sense of agency, raising questions about mental autonomy and identity.

Way Ahead

• To ensure that BCIs benefit the masses, especially people with disabilities, it is essential to develop low-cost, scalable solutions. 
• Public-private partnerships and startups can help translate lab innovations into real-world applications.
• Further establishing educational programs and professional certifications will help build a skilled workforce in this emerging field.

Source: TH