A brain-computer interface (BCI) establishes direct communication between the brain and external devices, aiming to enhance cognitive and sensory-motor functions. Research began in the 1970s, following significant discoveries in brain activity recording, and BCIs can be non-invasive or invasive, with various applications in fields like medicine, neuromarketing, and entertainment. The technology allows controlling devices through brain activity data, opening possibilities for innovative uses.

1. Introduction and application

2. What’s Brain Computer Interface?
• A brain computer interface (BCI), sometimes called
a mind-machine interface (MMI), direct neural
interface (DNI), or brain–machine interface (BMI), is
a direct communication pathway between an
enhanced or wired brain and an external device.
BCIs are often directed at researching, mapping,
assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive
or sensory-motor functions.

3. A brief overview of the history of BCI
• Research on BCIs began in the 1970s at the
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under a
grant from the National Science Foundation,
followed by a contract from DARPA.
• It all started with Hans Berger's discovery of the
electrical activity of the human brain and the
development of electroencephalography (EEG). In
1924 Berger was the first to record human brain
activity by means of EEG.

4. How it actually works?
• Input : Voltage fluctuations arise as neurons
communicate using electrical signals.
• This change, caused by some stimulus, is then
measured using different methods like EEG,
BrainGate, etc., and shown as a point on a graph.
• When you plot many points this way you get your
output, a graph measuring brain activity. The data
represented by the graph can be used to control
devices.

5. • Non-invasive BCIs do not involve neurosurgery.
Types of BCI
• Invasive BCIs are implanted directly into the grey
matter of the brain during neurosurgery.
• Partially invasive BCI devices are implanted inside
the skull but rest outside the grey matter.

6. • In May 2008, researchers at Pittsburgh University
planted an electrode inside a monkey’s skull and
tried to read its brain activity.
Experiments

7. Experiments
• The next year, Honda developed its own brain
computer interface and used it to enable
communication between a human and its
humanoid robot ASIMO using nothing more than
thoughts.

8. Applications
• Medical
• Neuroergonomics and Smart Environment
• Neuromarketing and advertisement
• Educational and self-regulation
• Games and Entertainment
• Security and Authentication

11. Possibilities
• Endless