Neurotechnology refers to any methods or electronic devices that interact with the nervous system to monitor or modify neural activity, including brain imaging techniques such as MRI, fMRI, and EEG.
Technology to restore sensory, motor, and cognitive functions—such as cochlear implants or brain-computer interfaces—that have been lost or impaired; there are also technologies that fall between treatment and enhancement and may raise ethical concerns, like Pong-playing monkeys or Neuralink.
What is Neurotechnology?
Imagine being able to control a computer mouse using just your mind instead of hands or helping a paralyzed patient walk again using neuroprosthetic devices – these examples demonstrate the burgeoning power of neuroscience and its use of neurotechnology for unlocking human potential in ways previously thought unimaginable – from improving therapies for neurological and psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia, to augmenting existing human capabilities. Neurotechnology allows us to unlock this human potential at unprecedented speed, providing solutions for treating neuromuscular conditions or amplifying existing capabilities within human capabilities. These advancements make our humanity infinitely more capable than ever imagined!
This emerging field encompasses technology that brings us closer to comprehending how the brain works by monitoring, assessing, mediating, and imitating its functions and structure. It encompasses all technologies developed for observing the brain, such as electroencephalography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and functional MRI (fMRI), as well as brain-computer interfaces or neural implants that directly connect with it.
Neurotechnology encompasses technologies that modify the brain, such as neurofeedback, fMRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery, and neurostimulation, all used to manage pain or enhance performance for athletes or musicians. Furthermore, this field aims to advance drug development for Parkinson’s disease or anxiety disorders by targeting specific nerve cell types.
Neurotechnology continues to advance and become more accessible, revolutionizing how we work and live. DevOps makes this possible by expediting software production and utilizing machine learning technology for improved productivity, efficiency, and user experience.
Neurotech and DevOps make an ideal pair, as both require high levels of agility and speed to meet the demands of modern business. By joining together, these disciplines can create unprecedented workplace efficiencies, reducing costs while increasing productivity.
Neurotechnology holds great promise, yet it also presents some serious hurdles. Collecting and analyzing personal neuro data raises serious concerns about privacy and consumer welfare; researchers and policymakers must recognize this risk to develop technological or policy safeguards against it.
As part of any neurotechnology study, research participants must have accurate expectations about the risks they are undertaking. This is especially critical given that some procedures used can cause significant bodily harm or even cause death; additionally, certain technologies may alter one’s thoughts and behavior patterns, altering one’s fundamental identity in some way.
Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs)
BCIs (brain-machine interfaces) allow humans to interact with technology through thought and intention alone, creating an efficient path between human minds and machines. They can be used to control computers, robots, and even exoskeletons. Healthcare institutions use them to assist patients in regaining mobility after paralysis, enhance neurological rehabilitation, and even improve efficiency in the workplace by enabling workers to control complex machinery with their minds alone.
BCI technology employs electrodes to capture signals from human brain activity, then interprets these signals into actionable inputs such as cursor movement on a screen or text. While invasive BCIs require surgery to implant electrodes directly into the brain, noninvasive BCIs use sensors that detect and interpret brainwave patterns.
Once captured, brainwaves are decoded using algorithms to understand what you want the system to do based on your thoughts. This information is then used to send commands directly to whatever device is under your control—for instance, if you think about moving right, this system will instruct a robotic arm accordingly.
However, much work remains before BCIs are ready for widespread commercial application. Their development can be costly, and technical support is essential. Furthermore, invasive BCIs carry with them risks, including damage during implant or scarring, as well as seizures (particularly among people who have epilepsy).
BCI technology holds immense promise. For example, it could allow individuals living with paralysis to use robotic exoskeletons and regain mobility more quickly; assist neurorehabilitation for stroke victims; enable manufacturing companies to directly control complex machinery with thought alone, eliminating manual controls altogether and increasing efficiency; and help patients recover more quickly following a stroke or other injuries.
BCIs have numerous uses in hospitals and other settings. Doctors and nurses can use them to monitor patients’ mental states while gaming or virtual reality users experience immersive environments that offer new ways of interacting with the environment. But like any emerging technology, BCIs present ethical and social issues as they impact human identity and agency and their impact across societies.
Neuroprosthetics
Neuroprosthetics convert brain intentions into external actions (for example, a cochlear implant or bionic eye) or sensory inputs to perceptions (e.g., a robotic arm or sensor-based touch). Furthermore, some devices connect these two aspects—for instance, the University of Utah recently developed a robotic arm for people paralyzed from the chest down.
Most neuroprosthetics employ either intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) or spinal cord stimulation electrodes to record and deliver electrical signals. Some neuroprosthetics, like the Freehand neuroprosthetic (Muller-Putz et al., 2005), use both methods simultaneously to restore grasping function; others, such as the Graz motor imagery approach (Lauer et al., 1999) or 64-channel EEG-based BCI used with Freehand, seek to translate intention signals into muscle movements that then control peripheral devices directly.
These neuroprosthetic devices often utilize proportional commands, which indicate the desired magnitude of movement, or state commands, such as yes/no or on/off, to control output neuroprosthetic devices. With regard to robotic arms, for instance, this often means translating arm movements into commands for articulate words or moving a cursor across a screen.
Studies have demonstrated that speech can restore more natural and fluid communication by controlling prosthetic devices. Chang’s study takes this one step further by translating user intention into muscle activation of speech sound production. This allows users to express ideas more quickly and flexibly than previously by typing out each letter individually.
Bidirectional neuroprosthetics represent another exciting development. By extracting motor commands from motor or association cortices and stimulating somatosensory cortex regions for feedback stimulation, these bidirectional prosthetics retrain and improve motor and association functions—something demonstrated both in rodent studies and, more recently, with NHPs undergoing intraoperative neurosurgical procedures.
Neuroimaging
Neuroimaging refers to techniques scientists use to visualize the central nervous system’s structure, function, and pharmacology (CNS), specifically the brain. Neuroimaging techniques offer researchers valuable insights for business decision-making across various domains, such as consumer behavior analysis, employee performance optimization, and leadership development. However, neuroimaging should never be treated as a panacea – its use should always be combined with other methodologies and data sources ethically.
Brain imaging has two main categories: structural and functional. Structural imaging involves visualizing and measuring aspects of physical structure within the brain using techniques like MRI or CT scans, while functional imaging uses technologies like fMRI or PET to capture activity occurring within certain regions.
FMRI can reveal which brain areas are activated when people perform specific tasks, such as viewing images or making decisions. Furthermore, it measures how much activity occurs within these regions and what functions they serve; this data allows researchers to understand cognitive processes like perception, memory, emotion, and decision-making better.
FMRI can also measure blood flow and metabolic activity in the brain, providing another valuable way of measuring its health. This measurement may assist in identifying abnormalities associated with neurological or psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, it may assist in diagnosing conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases while tracking changes over time.
One recent Japanese study used fMRI data and advanced image-generating AI to create pictures that uncannily mirrored those the participants had viewed during an fMRI session. This made headlines online as its results appeared similar to “mind reading.”
Neuroimaging offers businesses numerous benefits, such as optimizing products and services, increasing innovation and creativity, strengthening customer relationships, and optimizing organizational culture and performance. Neuroimaging can reveal which images or words evoke solid emotions or attention and, therefore, assist marketers with designing more successful marketing campaigns; furthermore, it can identify which features of products or services may cause positive or negative responses among consumers.