By Emma Hong ’28
Neurorehabilitation is the process in which an individual with brain injury or disease regains the ability to perform essential neural functions. A key player in this recovery process is brain computer interface (BCI), a vast technology system that captures, processes, and converts brain signals into commands. These commands control prosthetic devices (such as prosthetic arms) that carry out the user’s intended actions. Many BCI devices are designed to restore or replace useful functions to those disabled by existing neuromuscular disorders. This form of brain-computer interface is not only convenient for disabled users, but it can also serve to greatly ameliorate their sense of autonomy and agency and help them integrate or reintegrate themselves more deeply and relatably into society.
Neuralink, a company founded by Elon Musk in 2016, contains devices that constitute BCI. These devices directly connect the brain and a computer. The computer then controls the patient’s limbs and/or prosthetics, helping treat patients with paralysis. Neuralink’s devices consist of a coin-sized implant called “the Link” embedded under the skull. The Link records brain activity from a fine network of neural threads and sends it to a computer. In January of 2024, Neuralink’s team implanted the Link for the first time in the brain of a thirty-year-old quadriplegic named Noland Arbaugh. His operation was successful, and Arbaugh is now able to listen to music or play online chess for the first time in eight years. Although there have been a few setbacks, such as the partial retraction of some of the neural threads in his brain, Neuralink is a promising solution for patients suffering from paralysis.
Another example of a new BCI system is Synchron, which is less invasive than Neuralink. It doesn’t consist of any open surgery. Instead, it focuses on a system called the Strenode, a small electrode array attached to a lead inserted into the jugular vein via a catheter—the array snakes up a blood vessel near the brain’s motor cortex. From there, it records the electrical activity of nearby brain tissue. The lead connects to the electrode array and sends the detected signal to a device or computer. The goals of Synchron are similar to those of Neuralink — to help people with limited physical mobility control devices with their thoughts.
While companies like Neuralink and Synchron are focused on restoring physical mobility, BCI technology spans more purposes. For instance, cochlear implants are electronic devices that improve hearing by sending electric signals that emulate sound straight to the auditory nerve. An electroencephalogram (EEG) is a device that monitors various neurological conditions by measuring the brain’s electrical activity via electrodes attached to the scalp.
Although BCI technologies have extraordinary beneficial potential, they have inevitable ethical issues. For example, BCI data poses a privacy threat as brain activity can reveal user’s thoughts and actions. Another potential risk is that BCI devices could be hijacked, taking away one’s control of their actions and autonomy. Other risks include BCI’s potential for misuse and surgical risks.
In conclusion, BCIs are revolutionizing neurorehabilitation by restoring essential functions and independence for individuals with neurological disorders, with advancements ranging from Neuralink’s implants to Synchron’s less invasive systems. However, as this technology develops, addressing ethical concerns like privacy, autonomy, and security will ensure it benefits society responsibly and equitably.
Read more articles like this in our Fall 2024 Issue!
