Brain Technology: A Consciously Evolving Field
Brain technology has come a long way since scientists were first able to map the brain activity of a living organism. In the 21st century, we are seeing a rapid acceleration of brain technology with the ongoing development and implementation of neuroprosthetics to treat disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, tools that help humans better navigate today’s complex environment, the brain-to-machine interfaces (BMIs) that allow us to control devices with our minds, and the analysis of big data generated by our brains.
With our understanding of the human brain still at an early stage, recent technological advancements have given researchers a significant boost to ramp up their investigation into this fascinating organ. In the context of our evolution, the pace of change we see today may be unprecedented, but this is only the beginning of a long journey that will see human capability grow more and more enhanced within our lifetime.
Neuroprosthetics
One of the most promising areas of brain technology is neuroprosthetics, where scientists are using electronic devices to bypass damaged brain circuits to alleviate neurological disorders. In 1997, the US Food and Drug Administration approved the first deep brain stimulation (DBS) system to treat Parkinson’s disease. Over time, the system has been adapted to treat a wide range of disorders such as epilepsy, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The system works by stimulating nerve cells in the brain with electrical impulses that mimic the normal activity of the brain.
DBS has shown excellent results, and a new generation of therapies is being developed with greater precision that target specific neural circuits. In the future, genetic analysis and personalized medicine could help clinicians determine the most specific treatments that will benefit each patient most effectively.
New devices such as the Neuralink chip raise the possibility of a future where all human brains could be prosthetically enhanced, giving us cognitive and processing abilities beyond what we are currently capable of. The chip is a tiny brain implant designed to treat neurological and mental disorders while simultaneously leveraging the brainpower of healthy humans.
Brain-to-Machine Interfaces (BMIs)
BMIs are one of the most exciting areas of research in brain technology. BMIs offer the potential to create direct communication between the brain and electronic devices, allowing us to interact with the world in entirely new ways.
There are two primary types of BMIs: invasive and non-invasive. Invasive BMIs use thin wire electrodes that are implanted directly into the brain, whereas non-invasive BMIs use EEG or magnetic resonance to track brain activity.
Research on BMIs has shown promising results with disabled people able to use their thoughts to manipulate robotics, musical instruments, and even artificial limbs. There are also non-invasive versions under development, including promising applications in language learning. Neural Linguistic Programming, a new way of learning a language, uses a single session of TMS, which selectively disables the cortex’s language-relevant regions, creating a state of neuroplasticity that is optimized to learn the language quickly.
The emerging research in BMIs promises to create a future where people can experience a new dimension of reality and interact with electronic devices while remaining physically untouched.
Understanding the Brain using Big Data
The massive amount of data generated by the brain presents a challenge for researchers. But with the increasing development of data-driven tools and machine learning models, scientists are getting closer and closer to understanding how the brain functions when it’s processing data.
Brain imaging is undoubtedly one of the most remarkable technological advancements in neuroscience in the last few years. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) can detect the changes in brain activity in real-time when people are doing different activities. This gives scientists the opportunity to study how each person’s brain works and how factors such as mental health, stress, and learning affect their unique brain activity.
The data generated by the fMRI is enormous, and there are now machine learning models trained to analyze a person’s brain activity and make predictions. On a small scale, this knowledge can be used to predict how a person will behave in a specific situation. On a larger scale, it could be used to diagnose and even treat mental health conditions.
Big data analytics has shown significant potential to advance our understanding of the brain rapidly and more efficiently. By working together, big data analytics, machine learning, and BMIs can help us achieve something that would have been unimaginable only a decade or two ago.
Conclusion
Brain technology is evolving incredibly fast. With the increasing number of discoveries and advancements, we’re seeing a world where a greater understanding of the brain is continually unfolding. Today, we see BMIs, neuroprosthetics, and big data analytics being used, but what truly lies in store for us is hard to predict. However, one thing is certain: the technological advancements of brain technology will undoubtedly help humans to explore new dimensions of life. As the pace of change increases, we must remain alert and prepare ourselves for an exciting new era of human capability.