Brain Computer Interface

BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE

As the power of recent computers grows alongside our understanding of the human brain, we move ever closer to making some pretty spectacular fantasy into reality. Imagine transmitting signals on to someone's brain that might allow them to ascertain , hear or feel specific sensory inputs. Consider the potential to control computers or machinery with nothing quite an idea . It isn't about convenience -- for severely disabled people, development of a brain-computer interface (BCI) might be the foremost important technological breakthrough in decades. In this article, we'll learn all about how BCIs work, their limitations and where they might be headed within the future. Man machine interface has been one of the growing fields of research and development in recent years.. an instantaneous brain-computer interface would add a replacement dimension to man-machine interaction. A brain-computer interface, sometimes called an immediate neural interface or a brain machine interface, may be a direct communication pathway between a person's or animal brain(or nerve cell culture) and an external device

A brain–computer interface (BCI), sometimes called a mind-machine interface (MMI), or sometimes called an immediate neural interface (DNI), synthetic telepathy interface (STI) or a brain–machine interface (BMI), may be a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device. BCIs are often directed at assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is collaboration between a brain and a tool that allows signals from the brain to direct some external activity, like control of a cursor or a prosthetic limb. The interface enables an immediate communications pathway between the brain and therefore the object to be controlled.

BCI can be decomposed into three basic elements:

1.Ways of measuring neural signals from the human brain.

Methods and algorithms for decoding brain states/intentions from these signals and

Methodology and algorithms for mapping the decoded brain activity to perform that task

The output, from the classification is employed as an impact signal for various applications.

2.The input

The reason a BCI works in the least is due to the way our brains function. Our brains are crammed with neurons, individual nerve cells connected to at least one another by dendrites and axons. Every time we expect , move, feel or remember something, our neurons are at work. That work is administered by small electric signals that zip from neuron to neuron as fast as 250 mph

3.Brain activity measurement

To measure activity within the brain, several different approaches are often applied. Because different phenomena are often measured in several ways: starting from direct measures like detecting the electrical currents or magnetic fields to indirect measures like measuring metabolism or blood flow.

The most commonly used methods to measure brain activity is:

EEG, Electroencephalography involves recording the (very weak) electrical field generated by action potentials of neurons within the brain using small metal electrodes. The advantages of EEG are the high temporal resolution and (the possibility of) non-invasive measurement. Low spatial resolution, caused by spatial smearing of the skull and high variability within the EEG signal are disadvantages.

Another major plus is that the simple applying this method. With a cap containing only a couple of electrodes measurements can start. For practical uses and applications it's small and comparatively portable, which improves prospects of future applications.

Brain Gate

Dummy unit illustrating the design of a Brain Gate interface Brain Gate could also be a brain implant system developed by the bio-tech company Cyberkinetics in 2003 in conjunction with the Department of Neuroscience at Brown University. The device was designed to assist those that have lost control of their limbs, or other bodily functions, like patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or medulla spinalis injury. The computer chip, which is implanted into the brain, monitors brain activity within the patient and converts the intention of the user into computer commands. Currently the chip uses 100 hair-thin electrodes that sense the electromagnetic signature of neurons firing in specific areas of the brain, as an example , the planet that controls arm movement. The activities are translated into electrically charged signals and are then sent and decoded employing a program, which may move either a robotic arm or a computer cursor.

APPLICATIONS OF BCIs

Neurogaming

Currently, there's a replacement field of gaming called Neurogaming, which uses non-invasive BCI so as to enhance gameplay in order that users can interact with a console without the utilization of a traditional controller. Some Neurogaming software use a player's brain waves, pulse , expressions, pupil dilation, and even emotions to finish tasks or affect the mood of the sport . For example, game developers at Emotiv have created non-invasive BCI which will determine the mood of a player and adjust music or scenery accordingly.

Motor Imagery:

Motor imagery involves the imagination of the movement of varied body parts leading to sensorimotor cortex activation,which modulates sensorimotor oscillations within the EEG. This can be detected by the BCI to infer a user’s intent. Motor imagery typically requires a number of sessions of training before acceptable control of the BCI is acquired.

Synthetic telepathy/silent communication

In a $6.3 million Army initiative to make devices for telepathic communication, GerwinSchalk, underwritten during a $2.2 million grant, found that it's possible to use ECoG signals to discriminate the vowels and consonants embedded in spoken and in imagined words. The results shed light on the distinct mechanisms associated with production of vowels and consonants, and can provide the thought for brain-based communication using imagined speech.

CONCLUSION

 Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) may be a method of communication supported voluntary neural activity generated by the brain and independent of its normal output pathways of peripheral nerves and muscles. The neural activity utilized in BCI are often recorded using invasive or Noninvasive techniques. We can say as detection techniques and experimental designs improve, the BCI will improve also and would offer wealth alternatives for people to Interact with their environment