Brain-computer interfaces are "plugging into" reality, and ethical and legal issues cannot be ignored

Brain-computer interfaces are "plugging into" reality

【World Tide of Scientific and Technological Innovation】

◎ Reporter Zhang Jiaxin

In a lab in San Francisco, California, USA, a 47-year-old woman from Canada named Ann sits in front of a large screen. There is an avatar on the screen that looks a lot like her. When Ann wants to speak, this "digital avatar" speaks for her, and uses her own voice. In 2005, a devastating stroke left Ann almost completely paralyzed, and she has been speechless for 18 years. Now, with the help of a brain-computer interface (BCI), Ann is finally able to "speak".

In 2022, University of California neurosurgeon Edward Chang placed 253 electrodes in areas of Ann's brain that are related to speech. When Ann tries to speak, the brain-computer interface intercepts the brain signals and converts them into words and speech. The system can convert speech to text at a rate of 78 words per minute, which is not as fast as the average of 150 words per minute for regular speech, but it is a significant improvement over previous BCI technology.

The study, published earlier this year in the journal Nature, is one of several studies in 2023 that sparked interest in implantable BCIs. At the same time, other companies in the field are making great strides. For example, Neuralink, a neurotechnology company founded by entrepreneur Elon Musk, recruited paralyzed patients to participate in its first trials of implantable BCI.

Two brain reading techniques

All brain reading technologies, whether implantable or non-implantable, are based on the same basic principle: they record neural activity related to functions such as speech or attention, "translate" the meaning of that activity, and use it to control external devices, or simply provide it to the user as information.

Implantable BCIs record more information-rich brain signals than non-implantable BCIs. Most non-implantable BCIs use electrodes placed on the scalp to detect tiny electric fields through the skull using an electroencephalogram (EEG) method that reflect the average electrical discharge of millions of neurons distributed over a massive area of the brain.

Implantable technology in development

Many companies are developing and commercializing implantable BCIs.

Black Rock Neurotech, ParadRomics and Neuralink have developed electrode systems that penetrate the cerebral cortex and record information from individual neurons. The interface of these companies is a grid of hundreds of hard, straight electrodes that can be implanted in a single person.

Until now, Neuralink's implantable devices consisted of multiple long, flexible polymer threads. These electrodes contain many recording sites and are implanted deeper into the cortex than rigid electrode arrays.

Instead, Synchron and Precision Neuroscience are looking at electrodes placed on the surface of the brain. Synchron's BCI device, which contains only 16 electrodes, goes against the trend toward greater bandwidth, and its implantation does not require neurosurgery, but the low bandwidth makes it impossible for the device to decode human thoughts.

Non-implantable devices focus on the consumer

Developers of non-implantable consumer headsets face a different set of obstacles. The Nature website points out that EEG has the limitation of not being able to decode the user's thoughts, and it is better at indicating a person's general state of mind.

Several companies have developed EEG sensing products such as headbands and headphones. These products push users into a deeper meditative state, or help people move into a more focused and productive state. In 2022, Liverpool Football Club announced that Neuro11, a German neurotechnology company, could help players stay calm and focused in stressful situations.

Some products are designed to directly manipulate brain waves, hoping to alter the user's mental state. The UK-based Neudio startup uses an algorithm to record a user's EEG and generate synthesized music in real-time, designed to direct brain activity to relax or focus. Other companies are using similar methods to improve sleep quality.

At the same time, metaverse platform companies and Apple have launched headsets that include eye-tracking technology. In July of this year, Apple received a patent to integrate EEG sensors into AirPods headphones.

Ethical and legal issues cannot be ignored

As the development of neuro-reading technology accelerates, ethicists and regulators are increasingly questioning the unique risks that these devices pose.

Raphael Youst, a neuroscientist at Columbia University in the United States, said that the brain is the organ that produces human thoughts, is a part of the body, and it should be a shelter for human identity.

According to Nature, implantable medical technologies can raise ethical issues. For example, considering that AI software helps in translating the user's brain activity into decision-making, there are questions about the user's power and responsibility. With regard to non-implantable devices, there are still questions about the quality of EEG signals recorded by consumer devices. These technologies may not only mean new ways to enhance the personal computing experience, but also raise the question of whether a person's brain data, or even mental privacy, will be commercialized.

Currently, Chile is the only country in the world that has legislation to protect neurological rights. In addition, the governments of Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and Australia are discussing how to develop legislation related to neurotechnology. (Science & Technology Daily)