Browsing Category: BCI

Nurmikko’s Neurograins can enable unprecedented brain signal recording detail, new therapies

Arto Nurmikko and Brown colleagues have developed BCI system which employs a coordinated network of independent, wireless microscale neural sensors, to record and stimulate brain activity. “Neurograins” independently record electrical pulses made by firing neurons and send the signals wirelessly to a central hub, which coordinates and processes the signals. In a recent Nature paper, […]

Algorithm isolates specific brain signals, provides feedback

The US Army and USC Prof Maryam Shanechi have developed an algorithm that can determine which specific behaviors—like walking and breathing—belong to specific brain signals. Segmenting brain signals has been notoriously difficult, as all signals associated with tasks mix together. Shanechi and her team used the algorithm to separate behaviorally relevant brain signals from behaviorally […]

Polymer improves medical implants, could enable brain-computer interface

David Martin and University of Delaware colleagues have developed a bio-synthetic coating for electronic components that could avoid the scarring (and signal disruption) caused by traditional microelectric materials. The PEDOT polymer improved the performance of medical implants by reducing their opposition to an electric current. Pedot film was used with an antibody to stimulate blood […]

Implanted electrodes + algorithm allow thought-driven 4 limb exoskeleton control

Alim Louis Benabid and Clinatec/University of Grenoble colleagues have developed a brain computer interface controlled exoskeleton that enabled a tetraplegic man to walk and move his arms.  Two 64 electrode brain implants drove the system. Benabid explained the benefits, stating that “previous brain-computer studies have used more invasive recording devices implanted beneath the outermost membrane of the […]

CTRL-Labs acquired by Facebook for 500M – 1B

Congratulations to CTRL-Labs and Lux Capital on Facebook’s acquisition of the four year old Neurotech startup. The company, whose technology assists in decoding brain activity and intention, will join Facebook’s AR/VR team. CTRL-Labs participated in a recent ApplySci panel of startups at Stanford led by Lux Capital’s Shahin Farshchi. Facebook presented its Brain Computer Interface work at the […]

BCI reads whole words from thoughts; no virtual keyboard necessary

Edward Chang at UCSF, Mark Chevillet at Facebook, and colleagues, have published a study where implanted electrodes were used to “read” whole words from thoughts.  Previous technology required users to spell words with a virtual keyboard. Subjects listened to multiple-choice questions and spoke answers aloud.  An electrode array recorded activity in parts of the brain […]