Gradually, a lot of new things come into our lives. The development of technology does not stand still, and tomorrow it may be possible what we did not dare to dream about yesterday. The neurocomputer interface (NKI) makes the connection between the human brain and technology, their partial interaction, real.
What is NCI?
NKI is a system of information exchange between the human brain and an electronic device. Exchange can be two-way, when electrical impulses come from the device to the brain and vice versa, or one-way, when only one object receives information. In simpler terms, NQI is what is called "controlling the power of thought." A very important discovery, which is now widely used in many areas of life.
How does NCI work?
Brain neurons transmit information to each other through electrical impulses. This is a very complex and confusing network that scientists cannot yet fully analyze. But with the help of NQI, it became possible to read part of the information of brain pulses and transmit it to electronic devices. They, in turn, can convert impulses into action.
History of the study of NCI
It is noteworthy that the basis for the development of the NK interface was the work of the Russian scientist I. P. Pavlov on conditioned reflexes. Also, an important role in the study of NCI was played by his work on the regulatory role of the cerebral cortex. The research of I.P. Pavlov took place at the beginning of the twentieth century at the Institute of Experimental Medicine in St. Petersburg. Later, Pavlov’s ideas in the direction of the NK interface were developed by the Soviet physiologist P.K. Anokhin and the Soviet and Russian neurophysiologist N.P. Bekhterev. Global research on NQIs began only in the 1970s in the United States. The experiments were performed on monkeys, rats, and other animals. In the course of research, scientists working with experimental monkeys found that certain areas of the brain are responsible for the movements of their limbs. Since this discovery, the subsequent fate of the NKI has been decided.
Electroencephalography (EEG)
Electroencephalography is a method of reading electronic pulses from the brain by non-invasively attaching electrodes to a person’s head. A non-invasive method is one in which electrodes are attached to the head of a person or animal, without being directly inserted into the cerebral cortex. The EEG method appeared relatively long ago and made a great contribution to the development of the neurocomputer interface. The EEG method is used to this day, because it is inexpensive and effective.
Stages of NCI
Information originating from the human brain is processed by an electronic device in four stages:
- Receiving a signal.
- Preliminary processing.
- Interpretation and classification of data.
- Data output.
First stage
In the first stage, the electrodes are either inserted directly into the cerebral cortex (invasive method), or attached to the surface of the head (non-invasive method). The process of reading brain cell information begins. Electrodes collect data from individual neuron systems responsible for various actions.
Preliminary processing
At the second stage of the “brain - computer” interface, preliminary processing of the received signals takes place. The device extracts the characteristics of the signals in order to simplify the complex composition of the data, filter out excess information and noise, which interfere with clearly distinguishing brain signals.
Third stage
At the third stage of the NK interface, information is interpreted from electrical pulses into a digital code. It denotes the action to which the brain gave a signal. Then the received codes are classified.
Data output
Information is output in the fourth stage. The digitized data is output to a device connected to the brain, which executes a mentally given command.
Neuro prosthetics
One of the main areas of implementation of the brain interface is medicine. Neural prostheses are designed to restore the connection between the human brain and the action of its organs, to replace organs damaged by a disease or trauma, with the subsequent restoration of the functions of a healthy body. Especially good, NKI can help people with paralysis or loss of limbs. In the use of neural prostheses, the principle of the neurocomputer interface is used. Speaking very simplistically, a person has prostheses of arms or legs, electronic implants from which lead to the area of the brain that is responsible for the movement of this limb. Neuro prosthetics have passed many tests, but the difficulty of its mass use is that NKI cannot fully read brain signals, and managing prostheses in ordinary life outside the laboratory is difficult. A few years ago in Russia they wanted to establish the production of neuro prostheses, but so far this has not been implemented.
Hearing prostheses
If limb prostheses have not yet appeared on the mass market, then a cochlear implant (a prosthesis that helps restore hearing) has been used for quite some time. To receive it, the patient must have a pronounced degree of sensorineural hearing loss (that is, such hearing loss that impairs the ability of the hearing aid to receive and analyze sounds). Hearing repair through a cochlear implant is used when the normal hearing aid does not produce the expected results. The implant is implanted in the ear apparatus and the adjacent part of the head as a result of a surgical operation. Like any other neurocomputer interface, a cochlear implant should fully suit the wearer. To learn how to use it and begin to perceive the implant as a new ear, the patient needs to undergo a long rehabilitation course.
The future of NCI
Recently, you can hear and read everywhere about artificial intelligence. This means that many people's dreams come true - soon our brain will go into symbiosis with technology. Undoubtedly, this will be a new era in the development of mankind. A new level of knowledge and capabilities. Thanks to the brain-computer interface, a large number of new and important discoveries will appear in many fields of science. In addition to medical use, NKI can already connect the user with virtual reality devices. Such as a virtual computer mouse, keyboard, heroes in virtual reality games, etc.
Handless operation
The main task of the neurocomputer interface is to find the ability to control technology without the help of muscles. Discoveries in this area will give people with limb paralysis more opportunities for movement, driving and gadgets. Already, NCI seamlessly combines the human brain and computer artificial intelligence. This became possible thanks to a deep study of the principles of the human brain. It is on their basis that programs are compiled on which NQI and artificial intelligence work.
NKI in robotics
Since scientists found that certain areas of the brain are responsible for muscle movement, they immediately had the idea that the human brain can control not only its body, but also control a human-like machine. Now many different robotic machines are being created. Including humanoids. Robotics in their human-like works repeat the behavior of living people. But while programming and artificial intelligence cope with this task a little worse than NKI. Using the NK-interface, you can control robotic limbs from a distance. For example, in places where human access is not possible. Or in jobs that require jewelry accuracy.
NCI for paralysis
Undoubtedly, the most popular is the neurocomputer interface in medicine. Management of prostheses of arms, legs, control of a wheelchair with the help of thought, information management in smartphones, computers without hands, etc. If these innovations become widespread, the standard of living of people currently limited in mobility will increase. The brain will immediately transmit commands to devices, bypassing the body, which will help a person with a disability better adapt to the environment. But when trying to perform neuro prosthetics, specialists are faced with some problems that they cannot find solutions to this day.
Pros and cons of the neurocomputer interface
Despite the fact that there are many advantages to using the NK interface, there are also disadvantages in its application. A plus in the development of NQI in medicine is the fact that the human brain (especially its cortex) is very adaptable to changes, so that the possibilities of the NK interface are almost unlimited. The question is only the development and discovery of new technologies. But there are some problems.
Incompatibility of body tissues with devices
Firstly, if implants are introduced in an invasive way (inside the tissues), it is very difficult to achieve their full compatibility with the patient’s tissues. Those materials and fibers that must be fully implanted in organic tissue are only being created.
Imperfect technology compared to the brain
Secondly, electrodes are nevertheless made much simpler than brain neurons. They are not yet able to transmit and receive all the information with which the nerve cells of the brain cope with ease. Therefore, the movement of the limbs of a healthy person occurs much faster and more accurately than the movement of neuro prostheses, and a healthy ear perceives sounds more clearly and correctly than an ear with a cochlear implant. If our brain knows what information to filter out, and which to consider as the main thing, then in devices with artificial intelligence this is done by human-written algorithms. While they can not repeat the complex algorithms of the human brain.
A large number of variables that need to be controlled
Some research institutes plan in the near future to create not a separate neuro prosthesis of the leg or arm, but an entire exoskeleton for people with cerebral palsy. With this form of the prosthesis, the exoskeleton should receive information not only from the brain, but also from the spinal cord. With such a device connected to all the important nerve endings of the body, a person can be called a real cyborg. Wearing an exoskeleton will allow a completely paralyzed person to regain the ability to move. But the problem is that the implementation of the movement is not all that is required of the NQI. The exoskeleton should also take into account equilibrium, coordination of movements, orientation in space. So far, the task of simultaneously implementing all these commands is difficult.
People’s fear of the new
The non-invasive method of implant placement is effective in the laboratory, but in ordinary life this method is unlikely to justify the hopes placed on it. The contact with such a connection is weak, they are used mainly for reading signals. Therefore, in medicine and in neuro prosthetics, as a rule, they use the surgical method of introducing electrodes into the body. But few will agree to combine their body and unknown technique. Heard about the terminators and cyborgs from Hollywood films, people are afraid of progress and innovations, especially when they touch a person directly.