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- 1. FOBS1111 Brain-Machine-Interfaces Professor Angelo Gunther (bs19algg@leeds.ac.uk) School of Biomedical Sciences FACULTY OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
- 2. Introduction to Brain Machine Interfaces (BMI) The CNS and how it communicates CNS damage and repair Brain Signal Detection BMI Technology Neuralink Future Goals Ethical Implications
- 3. Learning Objectives Explain Explain the function of the central nervous system (CNS) and how it works. Identify Identify the diseases and pathologies where signaling from the brain to the body is interrupted or cutoff, resulting in conditions such as paralysis. Discuss Discuss the reasons why the CNS is not very good at healing itself, making paralysis and similar conditions difficult to treat. Understand Understand the concept of Brain- Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and their potential applications in various fields Differentiate Differentiate between the three types of BCIs based on their degree of invasiveness: invasive, non- invasive, and their respective advantages and disadvantages. Discuss Discuss Neuralink's mission to develop fully implantable, wireless, and highly functional brain-machine interface devices that can help people with various neurological conditions and their unique approach to BCI technology. Recognize Recognize potential ethical, societal, and privacy concerns with brain implant technology and the need for regulatory frameworks and guidelines for responsible and transparent use of BCI technology.
- 4. The CNS and how it works • The CNS receives sensory inputs, processes them, and send motor outputs. • The nervous system uses electrical signals to transmit information • The Brain is the central processor for higher order thinking, memory and emotion.
- 5. CNS Injury and disease • Injury or disease interrupt the connection between the CNS and the rest of the body • The CNS has a limited ability to repair itself • The location of injury has a significant impact on the loss of function
- 6. Brain Signal Measurement • Common non-invasive techniques: EEG, MEG, fMRI • Signals are prone to interference • Precise location is hard to determine fMRI machine fMRI images
- 7. Invasive methods: Brain Computer Interface (BCI) • BCI is directly implanted into brain tissue • Uses small needles called micro-electrodes • Very high spatial resolution • High risk of infection, bleeding, tissue damage. • Neurosurgical procedure is very risky
- 8. Recap • The body communicates via electrical signals • CNS damage can be irreparable • Brain signals are hard to detect • Invasive BCI offers the fastest and most accurate measurements • Restoring lost function could be possible using BCI
- 9. and BCI technology • Significantly more electrodes • Wireless capability for both charging and information transfer • Advanced brain signal processing algorithms
- 11. Neuralink Surgery • Surgical Robot for electrode insertion • Faster and more reliable than human • Significantly reduces surgery cost and risk
- 13. Animal Models • Macaque Monkeys: • Very similar to humans biologically, anatomically, and physiologically. • Highly intelligent and trainable • Pigs: • Surprisingly also very similar to humans at the level of organs, genetics, body function and the immune system • Highly intelligent and trainable
- 17. Animal Models Success Control of on-screen keyboard Real time gameplay of “Pong” • Accurate signal detection and processing • Output signals have also been successfully demonstrated in pigs • Very promising results and high hopes going into Human Trials Pig hind-leg contraction induced by artificial signal Computer model of Pig leg
- 18. The future of BCI and Ethical concerns • Curing blindness • Connecting the brain to phone and internet • Dangers of Surgery and device malfunction • Manipulation, privacy, unfair advantage?
Editor's Notes
- Hello and welcome to todays lecture! We will be exploring one of the most exciting advancements in the field of neuroscience today! That of course being the so called „Brain Machine Interfaces!” Now don’t worry we will be working our way up to understand what excalty that even is. So without wasting any more time, lets jump straight into a break down of whats to come:
- First we will look at the basics of HOW our body communicates with itself and the environment. We then explore how damage to this system interrupts this communication. Using that knowledge we will then have a look at how exactly we could go about measuring all of these signals being sent around your body. That’s when we can finally dive into the heart of this lecture, Brain Machine interfaces. You will learn about how these technologies work and what the major difficulties are that we face. Finally, all this information will help us understand how spectacular some of the current breakthrough in this space are, specifically looking at one company owned by a famous tech entrepreneur I am sure many of you have heard of before. And to round off such a sci-fi topic we will have a think about the ethical considerations and potential future implications of such a disruptive technology.
- Here are some key Learning Objectives for those of you keen enough to revisit this lecture in time for the exams. Now without further ado, lets jump right in!
- Imagine the nervous system as an intricate web of communication lines that help your body navigate through the world. This complex network can be broken down into two main sections: the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Think of the PNS as the messenger service, connecting your brain and spinal cord (the CNS) to the rest of your body. It's like the telephone lines running through your neighborhood, making sure all your body parts are in touch with each other. Now, how does this communication actually work? Well, it's all thanks to electrical signals called action potentials that zip through the network at lightning speed. And the stars of this high-speed system are the neurons, they are the cellular building blocks that make everything possible. Moving on to the central nervous system, which is like the command center of this vast operation. It consists of the brain and spinal cord, which handle the heavy lifting when it comes to processing and coordinating all the incoming and outgoing information. The brain is the mastermind behind the scenes, taking care of higher-order thinking, memory, and emotions. Meanwhile, the spinal cord acts like a busy highway, carrying sensory data from the body to the brain and then sending motor commands from the brain back to the muscles. https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scitechtrain.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2018%2F01%2FThe-Brain.png&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=c121153472f58d42d4b5e511903f5934919f64b3516677dbf4634fd09fa2c7d8&ipo=images https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/EMzghWm5jQkJGFM5I0rShEwhEMDFpg1ArLl7uh8Uwynrs-Qrhw0UL3YHPWq2KKcGfB9MtBcDcl3xnPS_HNM8UHTmBF_fixDNxOf7NUYGfNuWHW6rZLtVjNHt4VTtRiRm0iXyNR6Y
- Picture this: the central nervous system (CNS) is like a grand control center that manages the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. But, what happens when this control center gets damaged? Let's find out, in a nutshell. CNS injuries can happen because of unfortunate events like car accidents or due to diseases like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's. To make things clearer, let's take a look at this diagram on the right. See those colorful lines? They show us the different levels of loss of function depending on the severity of the injury. Imagine there's a nasty injury right at the red line – that could cause someone to lose control of both their arms and legs, which is called quadriplegia. But, if the damage is a bit lower, like at the green line, the loss of function would only be from the hips down, known as paraplegia. Now, here's the not-so-great news: the CNS doesn't have the best track record when it comes to healing itself. Unlike our trusty bones that can often recover without much medical help, the CNS is a different story. In many cases, like paralysis, complete recovery may not be possible. So, what does this mean for people with CNS injuries or diseases? Well, they might need long-term medical care, rehabilitation, and ongoing support to manage their symptoms and make the most out of life. https://rlv.zcache.co.nz/spinal_cord_injury_levels_labelled_diagram_poster-r11fa27a1d9e04f9f8f1a794bb7a59291_a19ln_8byvr_630.jpg?view_padding=[285%2C0%2C285%2C0] https://healthiack.com/wp-content/uploads/Pictures-of-Central-nervous-system-1400.jpg #
- Imagine trying to eavesdrop on the conversations happening inside your brain. There are several ways to tune into these brain signals, ranging from non-invasive methods, which don't require surgery, to invasive ones, which involve going under the knife. Non-invasive techniques come with fancy names like electroencephalography (EEG), magnetoencephalography (MEG), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Despite their complexity, they all have one thing in common: they measure the electrical or magnetic fields generated by our brains as we think or perform actions. EEG reads our brain's electrical chatter through sensors on our heads, while MEG listens to the magnetic fields our brains create. Here on the left we can see the output brain waves. That data looks very messy and doesn’t convey much to the untrained eye fMRI, on the other hand, keeps an eye on blood flow changes in the brain to decipher its workings. We can take a look here at the bottom right of the screen. These are some very pretty looking images for sure, but the measured brain activity looks very spread out. This makes it exceedingly difficult to determine exactly what activity means what. So to re-iterate: Non-invasive methods are relatively safer and more convenient, but their signals can be weak and easily disrupted by other sources of noise. http://www.trueimpact.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/GE-fmri-machine.jpg https://www.topdoctors.co.uk/files/Image/large/5b45e5d7-59f0-46f9-8c3a-202f25bbab96.jpg https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sebastian-Nagel-4/publication/338423585/figure/fig1/AS:844668573073409@1578396089381/Sketch-of-how-to-record-an-Electroencephalogram-An-EEG-allows-measuring-the-electrical.png https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neurologyadvisor.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F10%2F2018%2F12%2Ffmri_1136518.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=455dd34dc6b873a15f635e882762b7f46e9a618883cb004296252eaebaa8f4bb&ipo=imagesfMRI
- Lets get back to the "eavesdropping" analogy. Well, Imagine trying to eavesdrop on a conversation from outside a busy room. It's difficult, right? That's pretty much what it's like when we try to read brain signals using non-invasive methods. So, scientists thought, why not go directly to the source? Enter invasive methods, which allow us to tap right into the brain and pick up its activity with more accuracy and speed, without any interference from other signals or noise. Sounds great, right? But... there's a catch. These methods come with their own set of risks, like needing complex brain surgery where there can be a high chance of infection, bleeding, or tissue damage. And we can't ignore the ethical concerns of planting devices in people's brains, plus the possibility of malfunctions. Now, take a look at this diagram on the right. You'll see that invasive BCIs use these tiny wires called microelectrodes to record and stimulate neural activity. It's like placing a microphone right next to the speaker in that busy room. But fear not, BCI devices have been evolving, becoming smaller, safer, and more comfortable for patients. We are making signifciant progress in understanding the brain, but we must carefully weigh the risks and benefits of these invasive methods.
- So, we've talked about Brain-Computer-Interfaces, which are designed to read brain signals with high accuracy. But you might be wondering, what can we actually do with these "brain signals," and why is it so important to get such precise readings? Great question! The brain is constantly churning out signals that, on the surface, can look like a chaotic jumble. To make sense of this data, we don‘t only need accurate readings but also clever ways to distinguish whether a specific brain signal corresponds to, say, lifting your left arm or right foot. Let's pause for a moment to recap what we've learned so far and highlight the key challenges we're currently grappling with: The body communicates using electrical signals through the central and peripheral nervous systems, with the brain acting as the decision-making hub. CNS injuries and diseases are notoriously difficult, if not impossible, to heal, making them life-altering and devastating. To better understand brain signals, we've developed advanced methods of signal detection. The ultimate goal is to pinpoint specific signals related to particular functions, like moving your foot, and then send that signal to the target muscle by bypassing the damaged connection. However, there are several obstacles we must overcome to successfully restore lost functions, such as walking, in people with paralysis: 1. Brain signals are incredibly messy and complex; we must decipher them to understand what each signal represents. 2. Implanting devices directly into the brain, the body's most vital and sensitive organ, is a challenging and risky endeavor. 3. Device longevity is crucial. To minimize risk, we want to reduce the need for surgeries by developing long-lasting, and preferably upgradeable, devices. http://msgallagherlhs.weebly.com/uploads/3/8/6/9/38694679/2412832.png?468 https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/presspacs/2016/acs-presspac-july-20-2016/hydrogel-scaffold-helps-repair-injured-spinal-cord/_jcr_content/pressPacContent/columnsbootstrap/column1/image.img.jpg/1469021027205.jpg https://dwgyu36up6iuz.cloudfront.net/heru80fdn/image/upload/c_fill,d_placeholder_wired.png,fl_progressive,g_face,h_1080,q_80,w_1920/v1646757436/wired_wired-news-and-science-the-science-behind-elon-musks-neuralink-brain-chip.jpg https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FL6w0_j6mWbo%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=74268e9cb5669b995542f7b9c45d4aa08c587821816fe5403e3e65fb36e6f11b&ipo=images CNS https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2Faskabiologist.asu.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fresources%2Farticles%2Ftouch%2FreflexArc_MartaAguayo.png&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=be49afbf4aca72d290ced58251c6ba98ab63f3eab78b4a3ec13eb126f11bce42&ipo=images
- This is where Elon Musk's company Neuralink comes in. Neuralink has been pushing the boundaries of BCI technology and is currently seeking FDA approval for human trials in the US. Now What makes their BCI so revolutionary? Take a look at this image on the left. That's Neuralink's newest chip design, complete with a battery, a tiny computer, and thousands of ultra-thin wires called electrodes. This chip has a whopping 10x more electrodes than previous devices, which only had about 200-300. It's fully implantable, reducing contact between the brain and the outside world. Plus, it can be wirelessly charged and updated, making it incredibly future-proof. Down at the bottom here, you can see that the enormous amount of data recorded by the chip is analyzed by a highly sophisticated program. This program learns and adapts as it gathers more information from the user. Their ultimate goal? To detect brain signals for leg movement and bypass the damaged section of the spinal cord, allowing patients to regain control and walk again. https://media.hswstatic.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50Lmhzd3N0YXRpYy5jb20iLCJrZXkiOiJnaWZcL2JyYWluLWNvbXB1dGVyLWludGVyZmFjZS0yLmdpZiIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjkwfSwidG9Gb3JtYXQiOiJhdmlmIn19 https://media.hswstatic.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50Lmhzd3N0YXRpYy5jb20iLCJrZXkiOiJnaWZcL2JyYWluLWNvbXB1dGVyLWludGVyZmFjZS0yLmdpZiIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjkwfSwidG9Gb3JtYXQiOiJhdmlmIn19 https://computer.howstuffworks.com/brain-computer-interface.htm https://media.hswstatic.com/eyJidWNrZXQiOiJjb250ZW50Lmhzd3N0YXRpYy5jb20iLCJrZXkiOiJnaWZcL2JyYWluLWNvbXB1dGVyLWludGVyZmFjZS0zLmdpZiIsImVkaXRzIjp7InJlc2l6ZSI6eyJ3aWR0aCI6MjkwfSwidG9Gb3JtYXQiOiJhdmlmIn19 https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2F1734811051.rsc.cdn77.org%2Fdata%2Fimages%2Ffull%2F383310%2Fthe-neuralink-implant.jpg%3Fw%3D600%3Fw%3D650&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=661aa165ec7ee5364cfd57347f8fc8b8eb6a59ca0689d810d49142437649c6ff&ipo=images
- Here is just a quick visualisation: On the left we have an individual who ash lost the ability to walk due to a severed spinal cord marked by the white cross. The implanted device will aim to detect the signals to move the leg, and send them wirelessly to a second device, bypassing the injury. Here on the right we can see an animation of how this is supposed to look. A truly remarkable goal.
- If all this wasn’t enough Neuralink have developed their own surgery robot. This is truly groundbreaking! Here on the left we can see how this device looks like. The Neuro-surgery required to implant the BCI is one of the largest difficulties to overcome. Both an extreme amount of precision and speed are required to execute the surgery safely. Nueralinks surgery robot uses advanced video processing to avoid any critical blood vessels when inserting the micro-electrodes. It does so in less time and more precisely and than traditional neuro-surgeons can. Here on the right we can see a demo of a needle inserting the various electrodes.
- But to really get an idea of how this would work I want you to have a look at their live demo of the robot on a model brain. Keep in mind, the robot needs to re-assess where all the critical blood vessels are and where the target site is after each implantation, because the brain could have moved. Imagine trying to insert a needle thinner than a human hair, whilst the entire target is shifting and moving with each heartbeat.
- The use of anmial models is always very controversial. However, in the case of such complicated technology, it is crucial that we use animal models that are as close to us humans as possible in many ways. This si the reason Neuralink has been using Macaque monkeys as well as pigs for their animal trials. I want to clarify that Neuralink takes animal well-fare and wellbeing extemely serious and find themselves under a lot of regulatory scrutiny. Now let us look at some mind.blowing demos of what the current BCI of neurlaink is capable of:
- The N1 device has already been successfully implanted in pigs and monkeys. To demonstrate how accurate and fast the device works, Neuralink demonstrates a Macaque monkey using an on-screen keyboard as well as playing the video game “Pong” in real time, using just its brain! As for demonstrating their progress towards curing paralysis, on the right we see a pig than has been outfitted with both a Neuralink device, as well as a number of chips on its leg muscles. This demonstrates not only how accurate their digital model of the leg is but they even demonstrate a successful signal transmission where the induce a hind-leg contraction with an artificial signal. All quite remarkably really! Now let us take a look at the exciting progress neuralink has already made in their animal trials. The implanted device has been demonstrated to work for both the control of an on-screen keyboard for typing as well as the real.time control of the video game "Pong". As can be seen on the bottom left here. These trials not only show that the signals are being interpreted very accurately but also that they can be transmitted accurately very quickly. On the right, we can see a pig and a computer model of the pigs hind-leg. This deomnstration showed us Neuralinks progress towards curing paralysis by using the data they have gotten from the pig itself when it was walking, to then induce hind-leg contraction acrtifically. They do so by having a second set of devices on the pigs leg that can transmit a signal directly into the muscles. This demonstartes just how good their models and devices are getting. Let us now look at future goals and implications of this technology.
- With human trials currently being approved the hopes for this technology are very high. Neuralink aims to not only heal people who are paralysed but also in the future also intend to restore vision to blind people. Elon Musk has even gone as far as to predict that we will one day use this technology to ineract with our phones and the internet directly, basically upgrading our current abilities. Now this all sounds like science fiction for now but let us have a think about the potential ethical problems here: First lets focus on the current research. The brain is arguably one of our most vital and sensitive organ and any form of damage is critical. BCI implantation must therefore be treated with absolute care. Any malfunction coul also pose a serious risk for the patient. As for potential abuse and ethical concerns, some worry that brain implants could be used for coercive or manipulative purposes, such as by governments or corporations seeking to exert control over individuals. Others have raised questions about the ethics of conducting invasive procedures on human subjects, particularly those who may not fully understand the potential risks and benefits. Given these concerns, there has been a growing call for ethical guidelines and regulatory frameworks to ensure that brain implant technology is developed and used in a responsible and transparent manner. This includes ongoing dialogue between stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, and members of the public, to establish best practices and guidelines for the responsible use of brain implant technology. I invite you to have a think for yourself about the potential risks and benefits of such a technology. Thank you very much for your time, I hope you enjoyed todays lecture on the exciting field of BCI and the current developments. https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTUkiNkN8Fmp0V1Uf3R8VxciKPedLVydQIqtQ&usqp=CAU https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Zehong-Cao/publication/347966443/figure/fig1/AS:980436444536834@1610765672538/Framework-of-a-brain-computer-interface-BCI.png https://www.lgtwm.com/resource/image/129922/landscape_ratio4x3/400/300/26e56581d3200812483d46650a0f9c80/0D9523A8A3CEECCD52A584AC0789A15D/030323-investment-bias.jpg https://blogs.vmware.com/security/files/2020/05/haking_is_the_new_espionage.jpg