Brain-Computer Interface- Explained Pointwise

Brain-computer Interfaces have become the talk of the town. Recently, Elon Musk’s firm Neuralink, a company working to develop brain-computer interfaces, placed its first device in a patient. The Brain-computer interfaces are being touted as the next step of Human evolution.

What are brain-computer interface? What are its different types?

Brain-Computer Interfaces- Brain-computer interfaces (BCI) are devices that create a direct communication pathway between a brain’s electrical activity and an external output like a computer or a robotic limb. BCI is a neuro-technological intervention with its origin in 1970 at UCLA.

Working of Brain-Computer Interfaces- Brain-Computer Interfaces are all modelled after the electrophysiology of a brain’s neural network.

For Ex– In case of a person suffering from paralysis, the sensors of the BCIs pick up the synaptic information for movement of limb. This information is then transferred to the external device like computers or external limbs. This information is decoded by the external devices using neural-decoding method. The decoded information is then converted into programmable action like movement of limbs.

Types of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)

What are the Advantages of these interface?

1. Restoration of Mobility and Motor Functions- This will enable them to perform basic functions like controlling their movements with their thoughts using mobile devices. This BCI Technology can be expanded to restore limb function or memory functions. For Ex– Neuralink Implant for Paralysis Treatment.

2. Treatment of Neurological Disorders- BCIs have the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for individuals suffering from neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy ALS, cerebral palsy, brainstem stroke.

3. Curing Blindness- BCIs hold significant importance in curing blindness cases where the visual cortex of the brain is intact.

4. Monitoring and treatment of Mental Health Disorders- Brain-computer interfaces can help in treatment of psychiatric conditions, like bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and anxiety. They can also be helpful in preventing pedestrian conditions like burnout and fatigue by delivering targeted electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain using neurofeedback techniques.

5. ‘Mindwriting’ for Non-Verbal Individuals- The Brain-computer Interfaces can be used by individuals who suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, speech paralysis to communicate their thoughts.

6. Enhanced Cognitive Abilities- Users can train their brains in memory, executive function and processing speed to the biofeedback they receive from a neural implant in real time. This will allow users to monitor their stats and self-regulate, similar to wearable tech apps available today.

7. Ease of Living- BCIs can be integrated into our daily lives like the smartphones or laptops today to carry out searches for Information and perform complex calculations. Also, BCIs have been used as a smartphone and smart-home device interface like dimming lights, e-mail administration, virtual assistants.

8. Avenue of Economic Growth and Future startups- Brain-Computer Device Industry is a $1.74 billion market that is expected to grow to $6.2 billion by 2030. This also opens up avenues for startup revolution in healthcare using BCIs.

9. Internal Security Management- Brain-Computer Interface technology can be used to develop hands-free drones for military use.

What are the Challenges Associated with Brain-Computer Interface?

1. Risk to Patient’s life- Since the invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces require surgical implantation in the brain, they carry risks to human lives like precipitation of seizures, infection, bleeding, haemorrhage and damage to brain tissue.

2. Risks of breakdown of normal neural transmission – The neural transmission between our brain and body parts functions like a fully coordinated, well oiled machine. However, there are risks of breakdown of this well coordinated neural transmission network on account of malfunctioning of the Brain-Computer Interface technology.

3. Ethical Concerns- The BCI technology suffers from ethical challenges like privacy of data related to mental health, threat to human identity by the blurring lines between humans and machines and creation of superhumans with enhanced cranial capacity.

4. Accessibility and Affordability- The technology carries the risk of becoming a privilege of those who are up in the socio-economic ladder, like in the case of use of cardiac pacemakers or artificial knees.

5. Concerns with the trials- There are legitimate concerns with the safety of humans and animals on whom the implant trial is being performed. For ex- Animal rights groups have raised concerns about tests on primates by Neuralink.

6. Regulatory Challenges- The Brain-computer Interface brings together a range of fields like implantable medical materials, safety of critical software, the Internet of Things and wearable medical devices. Hence, this would create regulatory challenges with the involvement of multiple regulatory agencies ranging from health to IT regulators.

7. Monopolisation of Technology- There are concerns of this technology being monopolised by firms like Neuralink. This will make the technology in accessible to many patients who cannot afford the high costs. For ex- Oxford Astra-Zeneca Covid vaccine which was developed by public funds reached far more number of people than their private counterparts.

What Should be the Way Forward?

1. Evolving a standard regulatory guideline- A common and standard regulatory guideline must be drafted by the collaborative work of different regulators like the health and IT regulators.

2. Funding support for Medical Interfaces- Philanthropic funding support must be extended to the Brain-computer Interface Startups working to ease the lives of people suffering from ALS, Parkinson’s and paralysis.

3. Collaborative Effort to remove the ethical challenges- There must be collaboration between the scientists, ethicists, policymakers and public to use this technology for common good and remove the ethical challenges like creation of superhumans, human identity threats.

4. Address the concerns with the trials- All the safety concerns associated with the trials like the safe health of primates and patients must be addressed transparently by the BCI firms like Neuralink.