Report of the lecture held by prof. dr. Nick Ramsey on the research in devellopment of neural control with brain-implants.

1. Report of the lecture 'Chips for the
Brain' given by Prof. Dr. Nick Ramsey.
Location: Paard van Troje at The Hague
Date: 14 March 2012.
Report by Siegfried van Hoek.
The lecture was given in relation to the worldwide brain-awareness week and was preceded with a minor
introduction by mr. Rob Heinsbroek from the NIHC Dutch National Initiative Brains&Cognition, which in co-
production organised this lecture. The tip talk-question is why do we have a brain? Before interpretations
were there already of an evolution of a controller- and experience- organ, where with the individual can
influence its surrounding with locomotion etc. But we can go a step further into that vision with the
question about what is happening in (neurological) processing if we for instance perform a locomotive
action. Because when a failure arises one may get paralysed for instance. Science is searching for
solution for this. Likewise there is a scientific research that wants to develop a technique which allows to
become able to control its surrounding by mere thoughts in stead of performing physical actions therefore.
Is this Science Fiction, or is the realisation of it closer then we might think?
The speaker of tonight Professor Doctor Nick Ramsey is linked to the psychiatric department of the UMC
University Medical Centre in Utrecht and is occupied with this research. Prof. Dr. Ramsey also is behavior-
pharmacologist and in the past he did research on brains in relation to addictions. Nowadays the abilities
in research are expanded further. So no we know MRI, EEG and MEG while a vast century ago there was
nothing available until X-ray made its first entry. It is therefore a rather young science. The research Prof.
Dr. Ramsey is occupied with is called ‘Brain-Computer-Interfacing’ and he received a scholarship of 1,25
million Euros for this. With BCI is aimed for being able to influence on the surrounding with the help of an
interface. We are now five years further, and we would like to hear about what has been achieved so far.
Prof. Dr. Ramsey was invited by mr. Heinsbroek followed by to take up the microphone under a warm
welcoming applause and speak.
Dr. Ramsey gave at start for introduction an example of the use of unmanned Drone aircrafts, where with
military missions can be performed. It is a plain that can make sharp reconnaissance images and if
needed also fire a missile. Behind the control of such an airplane is sitting a whole team, but ... with one
sole driver, one also can not control a bike together pointed out Dr. Ramsey. But such a plane indeed is
an example of a physical extension by which a person is in control from, and this can be taken as a further
personification of the controller, like as others for instance experience this with their car. The amount of
information a human being can process at the same time is limited. We only have two hands and with are
tongue we are able to say one thing at the time let alone even speaking two different languages mixed
together at the same time because of our physical limitations. A computer however is able to this indeed.
Seen from an objective perspective we may point that it is all about to be able to exercise a broad (-
banded) influence on our surrounding with.
The imagination about the expansion of physical abilities is huge, but as a human being we are ourselves
limited and not able to act broad banded towards the outside. Then Dr. Ramsey showed a piece of a
television series from the late seventies about the Bionic Man. (Lee Majors (Steve Austin)) was a former
USAF pilot, who after a severe accident got implanted with strengthened and refined equipment-
prostheses (limbs, eyes etc), they made a kind of superman out of him with the intention to maintain order
by with. In those days we also had the imagination that within reasonable time we would become to be
really able to this, like as we were thinking before that within ten years of the first landing on the moon the
realisation a Moon-Hotel would be a fact. Fantasy skips matters/steps, but actually we have still to go a
very long road, before we are even getting close to the realisation of a bionic implant. The visionary
opinion in science is also differing in about.

2. But everybody sees that it could become possible to make an implant which could help people being
paralysed by a lesion for instance. The higher the neurological disruption is located in the spinal column,
the larger the crippling limitations are. Someone who is paralysed completely but his/her brains are still
working coherently is called to have the locked in syndrome’, whereof patients with a completely locked in
syndrome are in the worst situation. We do not know exactly how many patients with this syndrome there
are in the Netherlands, because they are outside the field of medical world (the hospital) taking care of
elsewhere in institutes for, because the are called as a medical-refractory patient with no further treatment
available that could help them.
Becoming paralysed can have different causes, by a brain bleeding, a muscular disease or a lesion for
instance. The connection between the brain and the muscle is lost then and recovery from is also not
possible. To be able to do something about that anyhow we have to be at the brains. Thirty years ago we
had our first research facility with EEG. With conducting gel and receptors placed on the head we were
able to measure the electronic energy around the skull that is generated by the brains. In the neurological
nerve transmission modular electricity is generated. Via the nerves muscles are controlled with by a
change of electronic signal via Synapse-Receptor-signal- transmission. We were able to note that if we
are only thinking to perform a certain movement, and not actually performing that movement, that similar
impulses are measurable in the brains! (Dr. Ramsey is showing images to underpin this further.) In the
moment of rest the potential in the brain is at its highest level, but as soon as an action takes place locally
a lower potential is measurable. Exactly being able to measure those changes of potential is the starting
point in the research we are occupied with.
Likewise in Berlin scientists were able to play the seventies computer game Pong against each other with
just and only using their mind. Now, this starting point is not good enough for patients, because these
scientists were not paralysed, they were rather focus-trained to be able to play this game by only thinking.
And it is also not realistic for paralysed people, because they miss the repeated exercise with. Above, the
requirements are much higher, because a lot can go wrong in for instance controlling a wheelchair, and
two out of three patients are also not strong enough to generate a signal of imagination strong enough for.
In addition to this aspects is that because by being paralysed the feedback of the activity can be forgotten:
the so called ‘not knowing anymore how to lift an arm’ (delivering the locomotive signal for). Dr. Ramsey
appointed the steps in pre-processing of the signal issue in the brains –what is releasing a controlled
signal- , where in consequence an action is performed with. That activity we also perceive visually and
that information is giving us feedback on the performance, which is at the root of knowing how to perform
a certain action correctly. Dr. Ramsey is pointing out further with an image what the first step in research
was.
The very first subjects got a kind of cap with electrodes on it placed on the head a so called EEG scalp, a
next step was placing the electrodes just under the skull-bone on the brains itself. A step further became
thus placing the electrodes inside the brain. Still such an experiment has certain limitations. Brains carry a
weight of around 1,3 – 1,6 Kg with at least a milliard neurons. Two percent of that is dying due to alcohol-
use etc. Biologically seen there is many more times information-material then we are able to measure.
Actually we still know rather little about brains. The science about brains is a rather quiet young science
being barely a century old now.
The development of brain research started in 1810, where they attempted to research on certain parts of
the brains. From that that time also dates the by now largely outdated research after phrenology, where
with they were trying to measure the function of the brain related to the seize of the skull. The term
Linguist- or computing node- protuberance dates from that time, and is related to the theme of skull-size
and (brain-) function. In those days they were thinking for instance that the language-functions of the
brains were situated under the eyes. (I.e.: In those days also certain patients were pierced through under
their eyes for ‘scientific’ here after.) A century later they became able to make X-ray scans, with this they
became able to study the brain of living people for the first time without damaging. And hence they got
another vision on the brains and their functions en likewise the left and right sight were recognized, what
respectively was seen as a rather rational and a holistic side in function of the brains. We now know that
the frontal lobe is involved in thinking and concentration, while instance the backside lobe is enabling the
visual abilities. That knowledge was build by the description out from the domain of neuron-psychology.
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3. In the sixties-seventies the EEG made her entry meaning already a significant improvement in the
research opportunities. In 1990 came the opportunity to do MRI scan research, by which also the blood
circulation up to a few millimetres became possible. From 2010 we are able to determine the intrinsic
resolution of the brains: the determination of the smallest amount of brain tissue which as a unity is
performing a function. We are talking here then about little areas as part of the brains to investigate those
areas. For long being able ‘to look under the skill with a hefty vision’ predominated, only now we have
refined equipments for this for studying brains. Whereupon Dr. Ramsey is giving an explanation with a
parable example about a theatre play and the audience on the tribune that the location of the electrode
and the distance to the brains is of importance. ‘When somebody is sitting completely at the back row, he
can see what is happening on the stage, but he cannot see the personages in detail for instance’, this we
could compare with placing measurable electrodes externally on the skull. . Donohue Cyberkenetics inc.
was occupied with this in research placing little needles in the brains.
If we would place as a single neurobiologist an electrode in the brains, then this would be comparable with
‘as if we were sitting with our nose up to the stage, our vision is limited we can only see a part of the
stage’. If we take a seat a little bit further away enough to be able to see the whole stage in our sight, then
we still can see enough detail and keeping the overview at the same time. In neuron-measurements it is
therefore also necessary to investigate a larger area by being a little away from the brains, but under the
skull. Such a surface investigation happens with little planes with a hundred needles of 1 mm length, what
can measure the electronic controllable connecting in the brains.
Likewise one could investigate the locomotion-cortex of areas where nerves leading to a certain muscle in
order to make that muscle act, as in the performance of making a grasping movement. In that test phase
research was done for this with apes by Dr. Eddy Schwartz. Apes applied with such a brain sensor were
being made able to grab food; the signal that took place in the brains was being registered. Before the
actual grabbing a thought is preceded before which they were able to measure electronically. Likewise
with was determined with a program, which neurons reacted if an ape wanted to take food. That specific
signal got decoded. Hereafter they started to prompt that signal externally in order to let the ape take the
food with its arm. In the USA they are fond of this kind of experiments with robot arms, these kinds of
projects are in quiet a number there, while here in Europe this kind of research is not happening. Finally
they became able to decode the signal for a robot arm, by which the use of the proper real arm was no
longer needed.
The mere thought to take the food was enough. Now we have to take in mind that measurements were
done based on real movements, a known fact that is lacking at real paralysed patients, therefore we
cannot really define what area exactly is leading up in taking that food for instance. That ape had a trained
ability for taking food with his healthy arm, while a patient being paralysed is not having that ability, and
above it is possible that the function to control the arm simply has been forgotten. But still, this was the
very first success-story of Donohue concerning neural control.
An other objection is that neuron do not always work, each day the activity in the brains has to be
measured again and calibrate the equipment to it in order to get the equipment working. Above this that
implantation of electrodes is not something allowing you easily to walk on the streets with, there is a big
closet with equipment connected to it, and a miniature version of that is still very far away.
Concerning the comparing of the audience at the theatre act it is also a matter of importance to find the
so-called ‘sweet spot’. Aren’t we too close by? We are talking here about little brain=areas in the order of
a square millimetre as smallest unity: the intrinsic resolution of the brains. Dr. Ramsey is then showing
some more images about the overall locations of various functions as they were found at humans, but the
exact placement is different from human being to another. Overall there are similarities to be named, but
to be able to find the sweet spot of the intrinsic resolution one has to investigate every person separately
first to point out that sweet spots first and then there after one also has to calibrate the equipment daily
(adjust). The research on the brains still has very long road to go, but the MRI scanner has expanded the
research facilities significantly in comparison with the possibilities that were at hand for use before.
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4. Whereupon Dr. Ramsey is giving an explanation of a MRI scanner. A MRI scanner is actually a very large
coil where electricity is lead through, which in consequence of induction and change of electricity is raising
an electro-magnetic field around the patient who is lying on a sort of table where the coil is going around.
By the presence of the body of the patient locally arises a small change in the magnetic field (flux) that can
be measured and calculated towards an image. This is a very precise kind of radiological imaging of the
internal body in coups (slices) up to a millimetre precise. A regular MRI scanner has a magnetic induction
of 3 Tesla (T = Wbm -2 ) Dr. Ramsey has an experimental build MRI scanner that is going up to even 7
Tesla. The coil is getting very hot due to the wire winding around and therefore has a cooling of –269 o
Celsius. With this scanner Dr. Ramsey is performing scan research. The question in research is what
areas do we need exactly in a function, and then to find these with the MRI scanner while measuring. And
this different from person to person, even twins do not have a similar identical building up in functionality
of the brains.
Research with craniotomy is however not very likely to be done. Still there are certain cases where we do
this. Likewise there are 10 to 15 epileptic patients that do not react on medication, en there are no clear
deviations to be found. Under conditions an implant can be placed in those situations. The operation takes
about an hour, a hole has to be made, a part of skull bone has to be lifted, and a little silicon matt is placed
as slices with electrodes on the desired brain area. Within that matt are placed many electrodes that
connected with wires go outside the skull. We put the cover back, tulband wrapped around of bandage
and the measurement can start with refined equipment. The patient is laying for its safety under 24 hours
fulltime surveillance. We are waiting namely for a natural epileptic attack (not an evocated one, because
that is not serving us). The issue is what element of the brains is showing the epileptic jamming. The
participation in research is by the way at a completely free willed basis. Thus we try to decode the brain
activity, so we get to know what exactly happens and when at an epileptic attack for instance. Placing the
electrodes internally can be done on a suspicion, because often the brain areas to be measured are
comparable. Likewise with such a tulband with a whole battery of equipment attached to it in the nearby
surrounding also other brain research can be done. We are able to interrupt a signal being given artificially
and to take it over. Brains are all little areas working for making possible the processing of information. For
instance for counting backwards from 7 to 1 various areas are needed: first of all the ability to reason
logical, but also for instance areas that enable the physical production of sound, and finally also the ears
as physical feedback on the performance being made.... We are able to (temporarily) interrupt such an
area from the chain, by which we are able to define and measure the brain activity locally. This principle is
used in controlling a simple robot function with help of concentration of the brains as like with the game
Pong. Likewise we had an experimental subject (individual) counting upwards or downwards in order to
control the ‘cursor’ in order to let the robot drive in a certain direction.
Thus, in the UMC Utrecht neural-prostheses are developed. Lately in the US they are working at the
development of needle pads that are working in groups op three pads to direct robot arms, results in this
we will have to wait for due to the development requirement of ten years of research on this. The thinking
of the patient is intact, there is so to speak failing a switch in the signal transfer. Such a person in theory
could control a pc in order to go beyond its own personal proper limitations. But again this is a very big
step forward still in development. There do is a company that is working on an amplifier that could be
placed under the breast-muscle, which could amplify and send through brain signals measured by two
strips in stead of using mats. The technical developments of the present time are like that, because
electronics are getting smaller and smaller, mobile phones nowadays carry a pc within. There are already
programs to able handicapped people to get the maximum out of their situation. By giving a confirming
signal letters can be recognised from -beams with letters passing by horizontal and vertical in screen-, by
which even an e-mail could be written. Of course this is a rather slow and laborious job to do.
The question also is what are we able to do with the knowledge acquired in research-applications, for
people that need such an application? What are the ideas about what we want (to be able) to decode?
Epilepsy is not a visual (brain-cortex) failure for instance. Which parts are suitable for the use of an
implant? In relation to our research: what parts of the brains exactly are lightning up in the scans.
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5. With this we arrive to the field of neuron-science.
A condition in reliable research is the ability to concentrate for test-persons. Dr. Ramsey asks the
audience to perform a harmless viewing exercise with staring at a point projected in the middle of a
projection-screen while for triangles around it (to the left, the right, above and underneath), while one is
moving of them. That convert attention of the viewer is according to Dr. Ramsey notably visible to
measure in the scan. The better someone is able to concentrate, the better also the measurement of for
instance the visual cortex will be and with this its function. Dr. Ramsey is showing a research-set-up
where a Robot can drive through a set-up controlled by watching at a cursor at a computer screen being
connected with the Robot in communication. The recognition of science is also a learning-process.
If we are able to register/decode the movements of all the separate fingers, then we could be able to
decode deaf language with (deaf language is complex)! But how reliable is such a result of such a
research for (intuitive) application? The imaginations as in cartoon movies like Avatar are being made (for
instance feeling what another external body is feeling) is not a reality, we can not even get at that brain
spot, for just one third of the grey matter is situated at the surface of the (from the outside reachable) brain
cortex. Two third of the processing is happening in the areas situated much deeper. Next to this there is
the technical problem of battery feeding for such equipment for instance. Above to that, attached to that
‘tulband’ is quiet a movement inhibitory beam of cables. If we would like to decode for instance emotions
then we even would not be able to place all the cables, that cable-beam would become even thicker then
the size of the head.
I.E.: To make a neuro-imulator for a hearing-nerve or a neuron-stimulater against diseases as Parkinson
or a depression are closer at reach. By the way there are already prothesen that regulate locomotive
actions, do take in mind for instance the pacemaker.
At last: A next step could become that the amplifier is embedded within the mats itself. Technically this is
already possible to build, but the most difficult step is to make such a device that also is safe medically for
implantation in peoples heads. There is no permission for to experiment with. Making the little cabinet
itself is not a problem, and within 10 years we will be able to with medical knowledge. The researchers are
however still facing a number of problems, where in about twenty years we might have answers. Dr.
Ramsey is expressing his hope that with this lecture he has given insights about his field of research, and
he is inviting the audience to pose questions upon, whereof report is given underneath.
Question 1:
Dr. Ramsey showed scans with graphics that at rest the electrode-potential was at it’s highest in his
measuresment on controlling an activity. How is that?
Answ.: This high potential is coming forth measured from within the middle of the brains. Certain parts
namely control other parts of the brains. At all animals (incl. Humans) the sensitivity of the brain is
regulated from the Thalamus. We could describe that as a high-frequent noise we are measuring. The
execution of a physical activity is locally polarising the cortex on that very brain-part that is taking care of
that control, by which a potential lowering change takes place, which we can measure. (There also is
going an electric signal for instance to the arm in order to be able to lift that arm: that is use of energy.)
Question 2:
Certain patients are not able to make enough activity in capacity of the brain. So there is a difference in
capacity, but how is that / how does this arise in existence that (measurable) difference?
Answ.: The ability of perception is an important cause. For instance if we carry with earplugs on for month
continuously then our neurons would become less sensitive to this. Brains expect a certain input, when
that input is lacking then its sensitivity for that kind of input will become dull. There is also a certain
memory where is referred to. However, another example in function of the memory is also, that a certain
smell or taste can summon to rise older parts of information in the brains in mental reliving the experience.
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6. Question3:
Your work is in relation to the researches of Dr. Jose de Milan and his Brain Computer Interface to control
the outside world by mere thoughts. Someone being completely paralysed could participate in
communication with friends and family with help of a pc in the presence of those friends / family. There is
an ethic side to this as well... Also the research of Dr. Henry Makram with reconstructing the human brain
within a computer and computer simulation is an interesting idea, for instance in the research after
Epilepsy. But how do you see the human being? In psychiatry they are getting back already from - the
concept being that a human being would not be more then merely a chemical fabric (molecule) inside the
brain, what in case if we could become able to put our finger on in process that we in principle could make
the human being even controllable-...
Answ: Dr. De Milan and Makran are colleagues of mine, in the past I have worked together with them in
research. But in distinction: how do we see the human being? As scientist we do not know. Inadequate.
Here upon Dr. Ramsey gave an example for illustrating his vision in parable: Imagine I’m a Marsian living
on Mars and I have a very good telescope where with I can look down on earth. Then I can see all kinds of
details like houses, roads, cars etc. Now you have to imagine that we can see a car moving, we can also
see reactions as cause of events and activities, but we cannot see who is inside that car. We could
influence on that car, but still that would not be a direct influence on that particular driver in it.
Question 4:
The control of speech is also happening with electricity, wherefore neurons are involved. Is it possible to
translate that electricity into words? Are we able to direct in control speech if we are able to measure that
electricity well? Are we able to decode what people are hearing in the auditive cortex for instance? Or as
else on a later moment was questioned further from within the audience: are we able seen in reverse to
give individuals impressions through electronic signals as it were as if for example a conversation was
going on being heard, but in fact this was merely simulated?
Answ.: Speech in itself is a complex chain of activities. Next to the ability to think on the formulation of text
there also is a physical locomotion. First the vocal cords have to receive a strong physical impulse in order
to get these contract, while at the same time breath is passing through out making them vibrate, and with
the use of the mouth, tongue and lips together worked up as a (for us understandable) varied sound:
speech. Also hearing speech has a comparable chain of cooperation of different brain-functions in order to
make this possible. So it is about linking various areas active; for people are thinking in plural dimensions.
Such a development is not likely to happen easily to Dr. Ramsey, and that such a technique would
become available for the consumer market with a off the shelf pricing, even if we would become able to do
this. In certain professional positions like as for USAF pilots one could lean on that kind of intelligence in
order to become able to perform complex controlling of an airplane. That would be another trend in
‘Drone’-development, indeed.
Question 5:
One listener from the audience went back to that image of Marsians where Dr. Ramsey was speaking
about in reply to question three with metaphorical language. Isn’t it possible medically whether or not to
directly visible to predominate, to control ‘that very driver in that car’ and likewise to control that car?
Answ.: First of all, there are quiet some esthetical aspects related to such an aim. And it does not offer a
(extra) value for proper functioning of human beings. What Mother Nature has made is many many times
better and more complex, technically we cannot match at all to that level. It is easy to implant electrodes
and to strengthen biologically the brain-signal, but we are not able to achieve with technique what normal
senses can do in performance. The development of such equipment is a fantasy. When the first man
landed on the moon after that there did not come a Moon-Hotel within the first ten years after. By now we
are even a thirty years further even... The Moon-Hotel appeared to be a Science Fiction thought; the
fantasy is skipping steps. Likewise also concerning the possibilities of Brain Computer Interfacing.
Professor Doctor Nick Ramsey expresses his gratitude at closure to everybody for having come to this
lecture and for his or her interest. (Comment besides the lecture concerning neural control and mind
control: the supposed ‘Mind Control’ happening (by controlling people from a distance and having them
experience suggested experiences etc) like as in particular in the juridical complaint of John St_ Clair
Akwei vs. NSA, Ft_ Meade MD was mentioned, is with this lecture to be pointed out as a fairytale. Only
the research-phenomena of medication-implants with monitor-function in theory can have certain reality in
existence..., but that is no neural-control.)
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