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…