Biocybernetics: Understanding the role of the

Brain- Computer Interface in shaping the

technological future of the contemporary world.

By Vikramjeet Singh

Mankinds progress through the millennia has been marked by great

achievements. From feats of grandeur architecture to artistic mastery of
color and style to the scientific mastery of principles that govern our very
existence. And as time will have it, trends emerge in our histories that
continue to hold the fascination of our generations to do more progress
beyond that which we have already achieved.

Our recent trend of

technological fascination began with the Industrial Revolution. Since then we

have seen our world grow smaller and smaller with each passing decade. It
has not hard to imagine how much human lifestyle has changed in just the
past century. We are a civilization that has grown to become sustained by the
very things that we create. Yet, as is our nature as a species, we must make
progress. Technological augmentation of the body especially the human
brain has come out of the realm of science fiction and into scientific fact. The
scope of this paper explores one of the advances we have made in making
technological augmentation a reality, the brain-computer interface (BCI) and
its practical use and impact on future technological innovations.

BCI Overview
So what exactly is the Brain-Computer Interface? Simply put, the BrainComputer Interface (BCI) is any device that can translate signals from the
brain to communication and control signals in the environment. In other
words, the BCI is an artificial process that bypasses the bodys natural
neuromuscular output channels by using computers to process signals from
the brain, recognize patterns, and project output signals to the environment
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based on user intent. BCIs typically have four components. For example, a
BCI must directly record signals from the brain either invasively or noninvasively. It must provide feedback to the user. The feedback must be in
real-time. Lastly, a BCI must be under the intentional control of the user.
The first practical conceptualization of the Brain-Computer Interface
(BCI) began with the discovery of electroencephalography (EEG) in 1929.
Electroencephalography is a noninvasive technique that produces a graphic
representation of the electrical in the brain. Electric signal conducting
electrodes are placed on the scalp that capture and map neural electrical
activity derived from the voltage fluctuations that result from action
potentials created in groups of cerebral neurons that have similar spatial
orientation. Since the inception of EEG, it was speculated that this technique
might be used in communication and control functions of the brain; that is,
the brain could interact with the environment without the need for
intermediates such as peripheral nerves and physiological derivatives such
as muscles. Today, EEG as well as other non-invasive techniques such as
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
(NIRS), and Magnetooencephalography (MEG) are being used for braincomputer communications. However, these techniques are not without their
disadvantages. For example, EEG can be easily contaminated with electrical
noise from non-neural electrical activity. In addition it is cumbersome as the
user requires special preparation to set up. FMRIs and MEGs require the use
of large machines which tend to be expensive, and NIRS is still relatively new
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in development. In addition to studying these non-invasive techniques,

invasive techniques requiring surgery have also been implemented in
development of the BCI.
BCI invasive signal recording is
done by having the user first undergo
craniotomy to open the skull. Signals
recorded by placing electrodes on the
surface

of

the

cortex

(no

brain

penetration
damage)
technique

or
is

part

of

known

electrocorticogram
Signals

neuron

recorded

a
as

(ECoG).
by

electrode penetration of the cortex are known as intracorticol recording. The

main advantages of invasive signal recording are that it produces an
electrical signal of much higher quality and resolution than can be achieved
with non-invasive techniques such as EEG, and it eliminates the need for
repetitive and cumbersome setup procedures; the disadvantages are that
the user must undergo surgery, ethical and financial considerations of the
user may make the procedure impractical, and there is a lack of research on
the long term stability of the implanted electrodes.

BCI Application Fields

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Current applications of the Brain Computer Interface fall under three

general categories: Communication, Environment Control and Virtual Worlds,
and Neural Prosthetics. A focus of using the BCI has been in restoring
communication to patients with severe disabilities such as locked-in
syndrome in which the patient is totally paralyzed and unable to speak. In
such cases, the BCI can provide an alternate route of communication to the
patient by transmitting signals from the patients brain to a BCI that is able
to translate those signals to output programs such as virtual keyboards.
Environment Control and Virtual Worlds is the most promising aspect of BCI
technological application in the future. By controlling scenarios in the virtual
world and using BCI to

input user

signals

world,

from

the

real

one expectation is that

BCI

will

provide a safe training

environment for a number of real-world activities. The extent of use that the
BCI in Environmental Control and Virtual Worlds is unprecedented as
technology moves forwards; one can only speculate on the innovative
possibilities that this technology harbors. Neural Prosthetics are yet another
promising application of BCI technology. It has already been shown to work in
restoring connection between the brain and a paralyzed arm. Future research
may yield more promising results as implementation of BCIs in neural
prosthetics continue to grow.

From a physiological standpoint, the figure on the left

shows some of the most common areas of the brain
where

BCI

signals

are

recorded.

Motor

areas,

somatosensory cortex, posterior parietal cortex, and

visual cortex

are particularly important in capturing

signals for BCI applications.

Recently, there has been a new introduction in the field of BCI the
neurochip. Traditionally and as this paper has demonstrated, BCI interface
operate on a multi-step level where signals recorded from the brain are
exported out of the users body and then translated to the desired action
output. With the introduction of the neurochip, we are now observing BCIs
operating solely inside the user. For example, the worlds first neurochip was
developed in 1997. In 2003, work was started to develop a neurochip that
would serve as a prosthetic hippocampus in rat brains. The basis for the
neurochip is a silicon multielectrode array that is approximately 1mm sq. in
area. Once implanted in the brain, this multielectrode array is coated with
cell adhesion proteins to grow neurons directly on the chip. These proteins
also allow for the neural ionic channels to directly communicate with the
semi conductive material of the chip to allow for electrical signals to be
transmitted directly to the chip. Conductors on the chip can then output
signals without the need for signal exportation outside of the users body.
The neurochip is an autonomously functioning direct neural prosthetic that
has opened the field of BCIs to a definitive microscopic level that is becoming
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essential in not only treating neurological diseases such as Alzheimers and

Parkinsons, but is also showing promise as an autonomous neural prosthetic.

BCI: Ethical Considerations

It is an undeniable truth that BCIs are changing the world as we know it
by both having the potential to enhance and repair both the body and the
mind while providing a deeper understanding of both. However, there are
ethical considerations that must be taken into account as implementation of
this technology continues to grow. A classic example associated with one of
the more common applications of BCI is in patients with locked-in syndrome.
In the United States, a preferred representative of the patient is a legal
decision maker for a legally incompetent patient such as one who has
locked-in syndrome. However, in Germany, a preferred representative is
legally a neutral party. Differences such as these between countries raise the
question as to whether it is ethical for a representative to make a decision of
invasive BCI implantation in a patient with locked-in syndrome.
Future ethical considerations of using BCI technology may be regarding
mind-reading and privacy. As commercialization of BCI follows, employers
may have more than necessary access to their employees by utilizing BCI
technologies that detect thought patterns. Furthermore, commercialization of
BCI technology that augment the user either mentally and/or physically may
be especially detrimental to social dynamics as the cost of purchasing such
technologies may effectively create societal divides and classification.

Conclusion
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The Brain Computer Interface is an emergent and attractive technology

that has the potential to reshape the many facets of our world. As this paper
has demonstrated, BCI, its basic principles and procedures, and its
applications have already started to show results. The future of this
technology holds many promises to advancing medicine as well a number of
other fields, some of which, such as augmented reality, are still in
development.

However,

with

this

technology

come

many

ethical

considerations, some of which are yet to see light as this technology

develops. It seems as though mankind has started establishment on of the
most important frontiers of our existence the human mind.

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Jackson A, Moritz CT, Mavoori J, Lucas TH, Fetz EE. The Neurochip BCI:

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