 A direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device.  Directed at assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions.

 Research began at UCLA in the 1970s  Contracted by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)  Focused primarily on neuroprosthetics applications that aim at restoring damaged hearing, sight and movement  First neuroprosthetic devices implanted in humans appeared in the mid-1990s.

 A device know as an electroencephalograph (EEG) is attached to the scalp.  The electrodes in the EEG measure minute differences in the voltage between neurons.  The signal is then amplified, and filtered by a computer program.

 After the computer program interprets the signal, It is sent to the external device to be executed.

 Complexity of the Brain › 100 billion neurons in brain › Each neuron constantly sends and receives signals  EEG’s not efficient enough to properly read every signal sent by each neuron in the brain.  The skull blocks most of the electrical signal, and EEG’s cannot accurately read what gets through.  Signals are very weak and prone to interface. Even blinking creates a stronger signal.  Invasive BCI’s create long term problems

 Only Laboratory Use › Not available to public  Not Cost Efficient  Still in Research Phase

 Second Life › A BCI that allows the user to control their avatar in the online world  Brain Gate › A neural interface system that allows disabled people to control a wheelchair, robotic prosthesis or computer cursor

 NASA is researching a similar system that reads electric signals from the nerves in the mouth and throat area, rather than directly from the brain.  Neural Signals is developing technology to restore speech to disabled people. An implant in an area of the brain associated with speech (Broca's area) would transmit signals to a computer and then to a speaker system.  Endless Possibilities…