Brain Machine Interface
Introduction
Introduction
Controlling a computer or robot through thoughts alone was once relegated to the domain of science fiction. Recent technological developments, however, have made this possible by developing a brain-machine interface. This interface is a direct communication pathway
between a brain and an external device, enabling a person to control computers and robots by his thought. When a person or animal intends to act, he or she produces uniquely patterned neuronal activity in the relevant portion of the brain. Using sophisticated decoding algorithms, researchers are able to study these firing patterns to predict the movement intended by the subject. This signal can then be routed to an external device, essentially giving the subject telekinetic control. In fact, studies in monkeys have shown that the subject will eventually stop performing the physical tasks to signal the external component, and merely think about the movement.
This technology is in its early stages, but several potential applications are either in prototype development or on the horizon. In the near future a paralyzed subject, for instance, will be able to use a computer through this 
technique. Similarly, wheelchairs could be controlled telekinetically, as well as artificial robotic prostheses, or even a device which converts thoughts into computer-generated speech. While the first generation technology is focusing on substitutional functionality, the future applications for this technology are boundless. As computing power increases, and robotic design improves, people will be able to harness far more powerful tools than ever before through thoughts alone. The eventual goal is to create a two-way brain-machine interface, such that the external device both receives control signals from the brain, and provides sensory feedback, thereby more fully integrating itself into the patient’s brain.
Brain Machine Interface
by Matt Lincicum
