The Future of Brain-Computer Interfaces: Beyond Telekinesis
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Understanding the Limits of Current BCI Technology
Have you ever experienced telepathy? This ability allows us to share thoughts with others directly, but currently, we rely on words to convey our ideas.
Consider the green tree frog I’m describing: a vibrant creature with a white belly, bright blue stripes, orange toes, and striking red eyes, clinging to a tropical grass stem.
Can you visualize it? If you can, it’s because I used language to transfer that image from my mind to yours. However, words have their limits. While talented authors can help us imagine a frog's size by comparing it to a silver dollar, they cannot fully encapsulate the experience.
An engineer could provide precise measurements, and an artist could describe colors in detail, but you might soon lose interest in the frog and want to move on to something else. The challenge is that even if we’re both picturing a frog, the details might differ due to the constraints of verbal communication.
At present, our closest approximation to telepathy is spoken language. With technology, we can enhance this by using images or videos to communicate our thoughts more effectively.
The Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a significant step toward the ability to share thoughts directly, yet we are still not there. Devices like Neuralink's N1 implant, which is embedded in the motor cortex, or Precision's BCI that sits atop the dura mater, utilize neural signals to facilitate movement control. This enables users to operate cursors by simply intending to move their limbs.
While someone with such a device can play games or compose emails about that frog, they are not actually transmitting thoughts; they are merely translating movement intentions into actions.
Elon Musk's Neuralink has been referred to as a form of telepathy, but this seems a mischaracterization. It functions more like telekinesis—allowing individuals to move objects with their minds. Professor X, a character with both abilities, highlights this confusion. Although providing telekinetic capabilities is a commendable advancement, referring to it as telepathy is overly optimistic.
Chapter 2: The Impact of BCI on Communication
The progressive muscle disease known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's Disease, is devastating, causing neuron degeneration that results in muscle weakness, paralysis, and often the loss of speech.
Stephen Hawking lived with ALS for nearly 55 years, but many do not share his longevity due to the disease's grim prognosis, which typically allows for only two to five years of life post-diagnosis.
A story from UC Davis illustrates how a BCI implanted in the left precentral gyrus—a brain area vital for speech coordination—has enabled a patient to regain the ability to communicate. The system accurately predicts words and vocalizes them, restoring nearly full speech capability at a 97% accuracy rate.
What an extraordinary breakthrough!
While this machine-assisted communication approaches the essence of telepathy, it remains distinct from true mind-reading. We need advancements that allow BCIs to decode thoughts, images, memories, and emotions.
A recent study in Japan successfully utilized fMRI technology combined with AI to interpret brain activity into images. Though not flawless, this research demonstrates the potential for future developments in BCI.
The pioneers working on BCIs to help individuals reconnect with the world deserve recognition. Blackrock Neurotech's Utah array, developed in the '90s and first tested on humans in 2004, allowed Nathan Copeland to control a robotic arm—an impressive milestone.
However, it has been two decades, and despite the rapid advancements in personal technology, we have not made equivalent progress in restoring vital human functions through BCIs.
The Need for Accelerated BCI Development
In the U.S., around 302,000 individuals live with spinal cord injuries, with an additional 18,000 diagnosed each year. Approximately every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS, and over five million Americans face some form of paralysis.
Assistive technologies like the Quadstick, Sip/Puff, and Mouthstick offer some benefits, but they fall short of providing adequate solutions. Despite recent surges in research activity, including human trials by companies like Neuralink, Precision, and Synchron, we are still far from achieving our goals.
While it’s crucial to conduct studies safely and ethically, time is of the essence for individuals suffering from ALS. The FDA should expedite these trials, granting more people access to BCIs and accelerating our path toward a future where BCI-enabled telepathy is possible.
Such advancements could revolutionize lives, offering more than just a simple image of a frog transferred from one mind to another. They could restore dignity and independence to those who have lost the ability to move, allowing ALS patients to communicate effectively with their loved ones and advocate for themselves.
Would you consider getting a BCI?