Brain Mechanics
Monkeys' Brains Move Robotic Arm (MSNBC, 10.13.03).
This is absolutely fascinating. While there have been quite a few breakthroughs in the last year regarding electro-mechanical brain interfaces, this one breaks new ground on a number of levels, the most interesting being the following:
Mental Control: The monkeys "intuitively" learned how to control the robotic arm using their mind once they realized that the joystick that they had been initially trained with was not necessary.
Brain Rewiring: The monkeys' brains automatically "recruited" other neurons (which were connected to the computer but initially used for other purposes, such as input) to facilitate the prescribed role (output) based on the new interface. This supports other research in the industry (I am speculating) suggesting that the brain is capable of rewiring itself based on current requirements (i.e., it is dynamic). Anecdotally this has been proposed by a variety of areas of science (such as psychology's "learned response" or a number of theories regarding childhood brain development with specific regard to language) but this is the first physical demonstration of the capability that I am aware of.
Brain Interface: The team that performed this research is now moving onto improving the mechanism by which the electrodes in the brain communicate with external computers with the objective of identifying a wireless mechanism. If they are successful, that will be a major step in cybernetics since the piercing the blood-brain barrier has been a major hurdle in such experiments to date (as it exposes the brain to a lot of potential contamination).
Commercial Potential: In addition, apparently some of the scientists behind this are starting an aptly named Cyberkinetics Inc which is chartered with bringing this technology to market through commercial channels.
Conceptual Diagram: The article included an illustration, but it was a bit confusing. I've recreated to help clarify any points of confusion:
Anyway, I can't wait until I have a Blue Tooth enabled brain. I am so sick of keyboards!
This is absolutely fascinating. While there have been quite a few breakthroughs in the last year regarding electro-mechanical brain interfaces, this one breaks new ground on a number of levels, the most interesting being the following:
Mental Control: The monkeys "intuitively" learned how to control the robotic arm using their mind once they realized that the joystick that they had been initially trained with was not necessary.
Brain Rewiring: The monkeys' brains automatically "recruited" other neurons (which were connected to the computer but initially used for other purposes, such as input) to facilitate the prescribed role (output) based on the new interface. This supports other research in the industry (I am speculating) suggesting that the brain is capable of rewiring itself based on current requirements (i.e., it is dynamic). Anecdotally this has been proposed by a variety of areas of science (such as psychology's "learned response" or a number of theories regarding childhood brain development with specific regard to language) but this is the first physical demonstration of the capability that I am aware of.
Brain Interface: The team that performed this research is now moving onto improving the mechanism by which the electrodes in the brain communicate with external computers with the objective of identifying a wireless mechanism. If they are successful, that will be a major step in cybernetics since the piercing the blood-brain barrier has been a major hurdle in such experiments to date (as it exposes the brain to a lot of potential contamination).
Commercial Potential: In addition, apparently some of the scientists behind this are starting an aptly named Cyberkinetics Inc which is chartered with bringing this technology to market through commercial channels.
Conceptual Diagram: The article included an illustration, but it was a bit confusing. I've recreated to help clarify any points of confusion:
Anyway, I can't wait until I have a Blue Tooth enabled brain. I am so sick of keyboards!