Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) : Transforming Ideas into Actions

Has the idea to communicate with others or control devices solemnly with your thoughts alone ever came to your mind? This will soon be possible thanks to the emerging technology of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs). With the help of BCIs, we can view or receive information from external devices without actually interacting with them.

BCIs work on the assumption that the electrical activity in the brain that can be detected and interpreted by sensors depends on our thoughts and actions. BCIs use sensors such as electrodes, MRI, or near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to record brain activity, then use algorithms to interpret that activity and transform it into responses to instructions.

BCIs hold the potential to transform many industries, from medicine to entertainment. In this blog post, we will go through the fascinating world of BCIs and know what it means for our future. Here are a few examples:

Medicine

By facilitating people with disabilities to regain control of their bodies and participate independently in their environment, BCIs have the potential to revolutionise the medical profession for example, patients who paralyzed due to spinal cord injury, stroke, or neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) . BCIs could also be used to treat psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, or addiction by changing brain activity.

Engineering

BCIs can be used to enhance and improve human-machine interfaces. In one case, BCIs could be used to control drones, robots, or mind control vehicles, increasing their flexibility and adaptability. By enabling individuals to participate in augmented virtual environments through meditation, BCIs can also improve such experiences.

Entertainment

By improving its robustness and connectivity, BCIs have the potential to completely change the way we watch movies, play video games, and listen to music. For example, BCIs allow us to manipulate game characters with our imagination or

change the flow of a movie or TV show based on our brain activity. By providing real-time feedback based on our sensory responses, BCIs can dramatically enhance the experience of live events such as concerts or athletic competitions.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations:

While BCIs hold great promise, they also present challenges that need to be addressed. Making checks of its reliability and security of BCIs is important, as well as protecting privacy and security. In addition, the ethical implications of altering brain function require careful study and vigorous debate. As a society, we must operate these unknown areas with caution and responsibility.

To conclude, brain-computer interfaces are exciting technologies that have the potential to change the way we communicate with the world around us. From improving the lives of people with disabilities to enhancing our recreational experiences, BCIs offer many exciting possibilities. However, they present new challenges and obvious ethical questions that we as a society have to deal with.

References

[1] Wolpaw, J. R., & Wolpaw, E. W. (2012). Brain-computer interfaces: something new under the sun. In Brain-Computer Interfaces (pp. 3-12). Springer US. [https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09457-6_1]

[2] Collinger, J. L., Wodlinger, B., Downey, J. E., Wang, W., Tyler-Kabara, E. C., Weber, D. J., ... & Boninger, M. (2013). High-performance neuroprosthetic control by an individual with tetraplegia. The Lancet, 381(9866), 557-564. [https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)61816-9]

[3] Riva, G. (2016). Neuroscience and virtual reality: A new challenge for psychiatry. Psychiatric Times, 33(5), 1-2.

[4] Kaimal, G., Ray, K., & Muniz, J. (2016). Biofeedback in virtual reality for anxiety and depression: A review. In Virtual Reality for Psychological and Neurocognitive Interventions (pp. 141-157).

[5] Hoseini, M. S., Haghparast, A., & Azimi, H. (2019). Emotional orienting to spatial locations in sports fans: Evidence from brain-computer interface technology. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 40, 102-109.

[https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2018.11.008]