New progress has been made in brain-computer connection.
On January 30, American entrepreneur Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company "Neural Connection" (neuralink) publicly announced that human beings have received brain-computer interface (neuralink) chip implantation for the first time, and the implanter has recovered well, and preliminary results show that good EEG signals have been detected. This is Neuralink's first human clinical trial after receiving FDA approval for human clinical studies last year and began recruiting patients in the fall.
At the same time, a research team from Tsinghua University also implanted a two-dollar-sized brain-computer interface processor into the skull of a high paraplegic patient to help the patient achieve brain control functions such as drinking water independently.
Schematic diagram of the human trial of the company "Neural Connection". **Neural Connection" company website.
Multiple effects are subject to ongoing validation.
Li Xiaojian, senior engineer of the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the follow-up technology has yet to be continuously verified in terms of human brain information collection capabilities, human-computer interaction capabilities, and the actual effects of helping patients resume communication and exercise, which is worth looking forward to.
Li Xiaojian said that the biggest feature of the experiment is that it is completely implanted wirelessly, which will be the first large-scale human brain information collection with a miniature electrode array in human history. However, there is still a long way to go before the technology is officially applied to clinical medical devices and widely promoted, and more technical verification is still needed.
Brain-computer interface is a direct connection created between the brain and external machines, realizing the exchange of information between the brain and the machine, which can assist, enhance and repair human body functions and improve the ability of human-computer interaction. At the operational level, it is necessary to implant sensors in the brain first, use it to collect the nerve signals released by brain activities, and then transmit the nerve signals to external machines, and finally decode the nerve signals through the decoding software to achieve the corresponding functions.
Recently, in China, the team of Tsinghua University and Xuanwu Hospital implanted a two-dollar-sized brain-computer interface processor into the skull of a high paraplegic patient, helping the patient realize brain control functions such as drinking water independently. The system adopts a wireless minimally invasive design, the internal body is embedded in the skull, and the electrodes are covered by the epidural (the dura is located between the skull and the cerebral cortex, which plays a role in protecting the nerve tissue), and does not damage the brain cells.
Li Xiaojian said that compared with Musk's experiment, the biggest feature is that the miniature electrode array is implanted into the brain in a wireless and complete implant way. "Wireless" means more convenient and suitable for long-term use by patients in multiple scenarios; The closed state of "full implantation" can isolate the brain system from the outside world, reducing the risk of brain infection; The miniature electrode array can implant more contacts in the brain to collect nerve signals at different depths in the cerebral cortex, bringing more information and better helping patients to interact with the outside world.
Research on brain-computer interfaces at the University of California. Source: University of California official website.
It is expected to be used as a medical device to the clinic.
In the future, brain-computer grafting is expected to be used for ALS, autism, depression, addiction, dementia and other diseases. "This technology has great application prospects in the recovery or replacement of functions such as movement, language, and vision, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of emotional disorders. Li Xiaojian said.
He introduced that the use of brain-computer interface to help people with motor disabilities and aphasia restore their physical functions, the principle of brain science is clear, and only a small amount of neural signals in the movement and language areas of the cerebral cortex need to be collected, and the requirements for implanted electrodes, chips and decoding computing power are not too high, and it is expected to be promoted as a medical device to the field of clinical diseases.
However, Li Xiaojian said that at present, Musk's test has only completed the first step of implantation, and there is still a long way to go before it can be fully applied to medical devices, and more tests are needed to further verify the safety and effectiveness of the technology. "The follow-up may promote the opportunity for bioelectronic ** devices to enter clinical promotion. Li Xiaojian said.
Li Xiaojian suggested that the design of the trial is relatively radical, and clinical safety issues need to be extra vigilant, and follow-up research should continue to pay attention to possible brain infections, rejection reactions, complications, electrode service life and other problems.
In the application of the medical field, the use of technology should be based on the principle that the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages, and researchers and users should guide the use of technology to a benign development, so that patients can become beneficiaries and avoid other negative problems. He said.
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Removing the skull graft chip, what do you think of this human trial by Musk's company?
Southern + reporter Wu Yanan.
Author] Wu Yanan.
*] Southern Press Media Group Nanfang + client.