Advances In Brain-Computer Interfaces For People With Paralysis
17:24 minutes
An evolving technology is changing the lives of people with paralysis: brain-computer interfaces (BCI). These are devices that are implanted in the brain and record neural activity, then translate those signals into commands for a computer. This allows people to type, play computer games, and talk with others just by thinking, allowing more freedom to communicate.
For decades, this technology has looked like a person controlling a cursor on a screen. But this work has advanced, and in a recent breakthrough, a person with paralysis in all four limbs was able to move a virtual quadcopter with extreme precision by thinking about moving it with their fingers.
Another area of BCI research involves speech. Recent work has shown promise in allowing people with vocal paralysis to “speak” through a computer, using old recordings to recreate the person’s voice from before their paralysis.
Joining Host Flora Lichtman to discuss the state of this technology, and where it may be headed, are Dr. Matthew Willsey, assistant professor of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Sergey Stavisky, assistant professor of neurosurgery and co-director of the Neuroprosthetics Lab at the University of California, Davis.
Further Reading
- BrainGate is recruiting for ongoing BCI trials. If you or a loved one are interested in participating, visit their website.
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Segment Guests
Matthew Willsey
Dr. Matthew Willsey is an assistant professor of Neurosurgery at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Sergey Stavisky
Dr. Sergey Stavisky is co-director of the Neuroprosthetics Lab at the University of California, Davis in Davis, California.
Segment Transcript
The transcript of this segment is being processed. It will be available early next week.
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About Kathleen Davis
Kathleen Davis is a producer and fill-in host at Science Friday, which means she spends her weeks researching, writing, editing, and sometimes talking into a microphone. She’s always eager to talk about freshwater lakes and Coney Island diners.
About Flora Lichtman
Flora Lichtman is a host of Science Friday. In a previous life, she lived on a research ship where apertivi were served on the top deck, hoisted there via pulley by the ship’s chef.