Tag: BCI

Mind and Machine: Exploring Brain-Computer Interfaces

In neuroscience, the frontier of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) holds the promise of bridging the gap between the human brain and external devices, offering revolutionary applications in fields ranging from robotics and prosthetics to communication and beyond. In the lab, scientists studying and developing new BCI technology leverage the human brain’s electrical and physiological signals.

Electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and steady-state visually evoked potentials (SSVEP) are among the primary physiological and psychophysiological signals utilized in these investigations. Multimodal integration of two or more signal types allows researchers and engineers to take advantage of multiple data streams in their applications and studies.

EEG, which can measure electrical activity in the brain, is a cornerstone of BCI research. Researchers can decode various mental states and intentions by analyzing EEG patterns, enabling users to control external devices through mere thought. fNIRS complements EEG by measuring changes in blood oxygenation levels, offering insights into brain function with superior spatial resolution. SSVEP, on the other hand, capitalizes on the brain’s response to visual stimuli, providing a means for precise control in BCI applications.

The practical implications of BCI research extend far beyond the laboratory setting. In robotics, BCIs facilitate direct brain-to-machine communication, empowering users to manipulate robotic arms or navigate autonomous vehicles with their thoughts alone. A study published in the Journal of Information Science Engineering explored ways that an SSVEP-based BCI could be used to control assembly line robots via a headset measuring the operator’s EEG signals. The signals would communicate instructions to robots while operators identified defective parts, which the robots would pick out. During the experiment, EEG signals were obtained using a B-Alert X24 headset. The EEG-based BCI produced a 93.33% success rate in correctly identifying and removing defective parts from the assembly line process, allowing the operator to effectively “collaborate with the robot and communicate defective parts without manually operating the robot.”

Prosthetics benefit immensely from BCI advancements, enabling seamless integration with the user’s neural signals for intuitive control and enhanced functionality. A 2023 study by a team of researchers from the University of California Irvine explored the viability of creating low-cost cortical stimulators for bi-directional BCI (BD-BCI) research. BD-BCI takes brain-computer-interfaces to the next level with the brain not only providing motor commands to an artificial limb but also allowing it to receive sensory input from such a device. A BIOPAC data acquisition and analysis system was used to validate the charge balancing of subcortical electrocorticographic (ECoG) implants used in a stimulator. The charge balancing test was performed on phantom tissue designed to simulate real brain tissue. The resulting study successfully demonstrated “clinical validation of a fully-programmable electrical stimulator, integrated into an embedded BCI system.”

As researchers continue to refine BCI technologies, the possibilities for real-world applications are boundless. BIOPAC is among the companies on the cutting edge of BCI research, partnering with other innovators to provide the latest in multimodal BCI technologies such as Axon-R. For additional information on Axon-R, check out our recent webinar on the device.

Are you planning to explore the frontiers of BCI in the lab? Our regional customer reps have all the knowledge you need to integrate BIOPAC products into your BCI study.

The Year in Review: Top Physiology and Neuroscience Research Stories 2022

Another calendar year has come and gone. COVID-19 remains a reality, but we continue to adapt to the ongoing pandemic and find new ways to overcome the challenges it poses at work, at school, at home, and in the lab. And speaking of research, 2022 proved to be a banner year for innovation and breakthroughs in the sciences, particularly in the physiological and neurological fields. Here is a quick round-up of some of the research stories that caught our attention.

Brain Implant Allows Locked-in Patient to Communicate

A man in his late 30s has been given the ability to communicate for the first time since being left in a completely locked-in state by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The patient, who was unable to move or even open his eyes, can communicate again thanks to a brain-computer interface (BCI) comprising two microelectrode arrays implanted in his motor cortex. The procedure was carried out by a team of researchers at the University of Tübingen in Germany. “This study answers a long-standing question about whether people with complete locked-in syndrome (CLIS) – who have lost all voluntary muscle control, including movement of the eyes or mouth – also lose the ability of their brain to generate commands for communication,” wrote Dr. Jonas Zimmermann, one of the co-authors of the study resulting from the procedure.

First Scan of Dying Human Brain Provides Insight into Near-death Experience

near-death experienceAn EEG recording from a dying 87-year-old patient has provided researchers with the first glimpse of the neurophysiological phenomena that occur shortly after cardiac arrest. While survivors of so-called near-death experiences have anecdotally reported intense and surreal experiences that include panoramic memory review, out-of-body experiences, and other hallucinatory phenomena, little is understood about what causes such occurrences. While experiments have been carried out on animal subjects showing a hypoactive state of brain activity under such conditions, this new data provided researchers with the first evidence “that the human brain may possess the capability to generate coordinated activity during the near-death period.”

Biomembrane Research May Advance Understanding of Memory in Computers and Humans

Drawing inspiration from the living realm, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Lab are applying biological concepts to next-generation computers with implications for both human health and cutting-edge computing. Researchers were able to demonstrate that an artificial cell membrane could imitate one of the hallmarks of biological memory and learning—long-term potentiation (LTP). The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows for the first time that a cell membrane by itself, without the benefit of proteins or other embedded biomolecules, can carry out LPT over several hours. The pure lipid membrane, which was formed using lipid-covered water droplets, represents the first nanoscale structure in which memory can be encoded. The discovery opens the door to neuromorphic computing, which imitates the way the human brain stores and processes information and is more efficient than traditional computing.

This is just a sampling of the exciting developments catching our attention in the sciences this year. For more explorations of the intersection of cutting-edge technology, physiology, and neuroscience, join BIOPAC at the T4 Human Physiology Conference in summer 2023. And have a happy New Year!

To learn more about BIOPAC’s role in exciting breakthroughs in neuroscience and physiology, and how we can assist you in achieving your research and teaching goals, contact your local sales representative today.

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