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Brain Computer Interface

electrochemical impulses, shifting

Abstract patterns sparking like fireflies on a
summer evening, that produce
The human brain is of the size of a
movement, expression, words.
deflated volleyball which weighs
Mental activity leads to changes of
about 3 pounds. We live at a time
electrophysiological signals. The
when the disabled are on the
BCI system detects such changes and
leading edge of a broader societal
transforms it into a control signal .
trend toward the use of assistive
In the case of cursor control, for
technology known as Brain
example, the signal is transmitted
Computer Interface. Brain-
directly from the brain to the
computer interface (BCI) is a
mechanism directing the cursor,
collaboration between a brain
rather than taking the normal route
and a device that enables signals
through the body's neuromuscular
from the brain to direct some
system from the brain to the finger
external activity, such as control
on a mouse. By reading signals from
of a cursor or a prosthetic limb.
an array of neurons and using
The interface enables a direct
computer chips and programs to
communications pathway
translate the signals into action, BCI
between the brain and the object
can enable a person suffering from
to be controlled With the advent
paralysis to write a book or control a
of miniature wireless tech,
motorized wheelchair or prosthetic
electronic gadgets have stepped
limb through thought alone Many
up the invasion of the body
physiological disorders such as
through innovative techniques.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Firstly This paper deals with as to
(ALS) or injuries such as high-level
how this mechanism is supported
spinal cord injury can disrupt the
by the brain . In the later
communication path between the
sections describes its
brain and the body. This is where
applications ,current research on
brain computer interface comes into
this technique ,real life examples
play contributing for beneficial real
and concluding it with its
time services and applications .
advantages and drawbacks.

What is Brain Computer

Introduction Interface
A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)
provides a new communication
channel between the human brain
The Wonder Machine – Human
and the computer.The 100 billion Brain
neurons communicate via minute
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The reason a BCI works at all is
because of the way our brains
function. Our brains are filled with
neurons, individual nerve cells
connected to one another by
dendrites and axons. Every time we
think, move, feel or remember
something, our neurons are at work.
That work is carried out by small
electric signals that zip from neuron
to neuron as fast as 250 mph. The
signals are generated by differences
in electric potential carried by ions
on the membrane of each neuron.
Although the paths the signals take
are insulated by something called
myelin, some of the electric signal
escapes. Scientists can detect those Fig1.How Brain Computer Interface
signals, interpret what they mean and
use them to direct a device of some
kind. It can also work the other way Cortical Plasticity
around. For example, researchers
could figure out what signals are sent The brain actually remains flexible
to the brain by the optic nerve when even into old age. This concept,
someone sees the color red. They known as cortical plasticity, means
could rig a camera that would send that the brain is able to adapt in
those exact signals into someone's amazing ways to new circumstances.
brain whenever the camera saw red, Learning something new or
allowing a blind person to "see" partaking in novel activities forms
without eyes. new connections between neurons
and reduces the onset of age-related
neurological problems. If an adult
suffers a brain injury, other parts of
the brain are able to take over the
functions of the damaged portion.
Approaches

Invasive BCIs are implanted directly

into the grey matter of the brain
during neurosurgery. As they rest in
the grey matter, invasive devices
produce the highest quality signals of
BCI devices but are prone to scar-
tissue build-up, causing the signal to
become weaker or even lost as the
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body reacts to a foreign object in the implant in the proper area of the
brain. brain, and if everything works
The easiest and least invasive correctly, the neurons fire and the
method is a set of electrodes -- a subject receives a visual image
device known as an corresponding to what the camera
electroencephalograph (EEG) -- sees.Another way to measure brain
attached to the scalp. The electrodes activity is with a Magnetic
can read brain signals. However, the Resonance Image (MRI). An MRI
skull blocks a lot of the electrical machine is a massive, complicated
signal, and it distorts what does get device. It produces very high-
through. To get a higher-resolution resolution images of brain activity,
signal, scientists can implant but it can't be used as part of a
electrodes directly into the gray permanent or semipermanent BCI.
matter of the brain itself, or on the Researchers use it to get benchmarks
surface of the brain, beneath the for certain brain functions or to map
skull. This allows for much more where in the brain electrodes should
direct reception of electric signals be placed to measure a specific
and allows electrode placement in function. For example, if researchers
the specific area of the brain where are attempting to implant electrodes
the appropriate signals are generated. that will allow someone to control a
This approach has many problems, robotic arm with their thoughts, they
however. It requires invasive surgery might first put the subject into an
to implant the electrodes, and MRI and ask him or her to think
devices left in the brain long-term about moving their actual arm or her
tend to cause the formation of scar to think about moving their actual
tissue in the gray matter. This scar arm. The MRI will show which area
tissue ultimately blocks of the brain is active during arm
signals.Regardless of the location of movement, giving them a clearer
the electrodes, the basic mechanism target for electrode placement.Real
is the same: The electrodes measure life example Dobelle's first prototype
minute differences in the voltage was implanted into "Jerry," a man
between neurons. The signal is then blinded in adulthood, in 1978. A
amplified and filtered. In current BCI single-array BCI containing 68
systems, it is then interpreted by a electrodes was implanted onto
computer program, although you Jerry’s visual cortex and succeeded
might be familiar with older in producing phosphenes , the
analogue encephalographs, which sensation of seeing light. The system
displayed the signals via pens that included cameras mounted on
automatically wrote out the patterns glasses to send signals to the
on a continuous sheet of paper.In the implant.
case of a sensory input BCI, the
function happens in reverse. A
computer converts a signal, such as
one from a video camera, into the
voltages necessary to trigger
neurons. The signals are sent to an
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with the outside world. The number of
control options that BCI systems
currently provide is also very limited at
the time being. So only an individual
who really needs to use a BCI system
(and does not have any other useful
communication channel) may be willing
to use a BCI system in the long run

Applications

One of the most exciting areas of BCI

research is the development of devices
that can be controlled by thoughts. Some
of the applications of this technology
may seem frivolous, such as the ability
to control a video game by thought. If
you think a remote control is convenient,
imagine changing channels with your
mind.

Fig2. BCI Mechanism To Operate Robot Only with

Brain

Who is the target of BCI Systems Advanced Telecommunications

Research Institute International (ATR)
The potential users of BCI systems and Honda Research Institute Japan Co.,
include Ltd. have jointly developed base
technology for a new BMI (brain
1. Individuals who are truly machine interface) to operate robots
unlocked. based on the human brain's activity
2. Individuals who have a very patterns. By measuring brain activity,
limited capacity for control, e.g., the technology judges the subject
useful eye movement. person's action from an image pattern
3. Individuals who retain and makes a robot take the same action
substantial neuromuscular almost in real time (about 7 seconds).
control. This is a breakthrough technology that
changes the relation between the human
Currently, the second class is the main and machine.
target of BCI communication and
applications. This is because BCI The company asked a subject person to
systems are designed for individuals show paper, rock or scissors with his
with motor disabilities to communicate hand, or loosen his hand and made a
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robot hand mimic each action. The system and a system using measurement
technology abstracts parts related to of brain waves or magnetic fields, where
move command from images signals run faster.
representing brain activity measured
with the fMRI (functional Magnetic
Resonance Imaging) system, figures out
whether the subject is showing paper,
rock or scissors based on each different
distinction by action, and transmits the
result to the robot to make it show the
same action as the subject does.

Used to judge the subject's action from BMI technology judges action of the
image patterns is ATR's brain activity subject’s hand and makes a robot
decoding technology. This technology hand to do the same thing.
analyzes fMRI patterns by making the
most of diverse methods including the
"Support Vector Machine" and multiple
classification analysis, works out what
image pattern corresponds to which
action, and judges action from an image
pattern. This technology enables the
robot to copy action almost in real time
by simultaneously measuring and
analyzing the subject's action. Currently,
it supports the movement of wrists and Fg4. activity measurement using fMRI
fingers as well as the above mentioned
paper-rock-scissors action.

fMRI is highly reliable to know what BrainGate is being developed by

part of the brain is working on a spatial Massachusetts-based Neurotechnology
basis, but it takes about 5 seconds for Company Cyber kinetics offers the
changes to show on the image after the possibility of hitherto unimaginable
brain starts working as the technology levels of independence for the severely
measures brain activity with brain blood disabled.Since the insertion of the tiny
stream that changes in the wake of brain device in June, the 25-year-old has been
activity. Combined with about 2 seconds able to check email and play computer
separately needed to transmit and games simply using thoughts. He can
analyze signals, it takes about 7 seconds also turn lights on and off and control a
before the robot starts mimicking the television, all while talking and moving
subject's action, which may be regarded his head.
as rather slow. As the fMRI is an
expensive tool Therefore, ATR and
Honda are currently testing other
methods than to use fMRI, such as to
employ a less expensive near-infrared
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sent and the robotic hand closes. Once
the basic mechanism of converting
thoughts to computerized or robotic
action is perfected, the potential uses for
the technology are almost limitless.
Instead of a robotic hand, disabled users
could have robotic braces attached to
their own limbs, allowing them to move
and directly interact with the
environment. This could even be
accomplished without the "robotic" part
of the device. Signals could be sent to
the appropriate motor control nerves in
the hands, bypassing a damaged section
of the spinal cord and allowing actual
Fig 5. user has a EEG cap on. By thinking movement of the subject's own hands.
about left and right hand movement the user
controls the virtual keyboard with her brain
activity. Playing with Cursor

Robotic arm A similar method is used to

manipulate a computer cursor, with the
Early research used monkeys with subject thinking about forward, left,
implanted electrodes. The monkeys used right and back movements of the cursor.
a joystick to control a robotic arm. With enough practice, users can gain
Scientists measured the signals coming enough control over a cursor to draw a
from the electrodes. Eventually, they circle, access computer programs and
changed the controls so that the robotic control a TV .It could theoretically be
arm was being controlled only by the expanded to allow users to "type" with
signals coming form the electrodes, not their thoughts.
the joystick.A more difficult task is Research
interpreting the brain signals for A new brain-computer-interface
movement in someone who can't technology could turn our brains into
physically move their own arm. With a automatic image-identifying
task like that, the subject must "train" to machines that operate faster than human
use the device. With an EEG or implant consciousness.Darpa, or the Defense
in place, the subject would visualize Advanced Research Projects Agency, is
closing his or her right hand. After many funding research into the system with
trials, the software can learn the signals hopes of making federal agents' jobs
associated with the thought of hand- easier. The technology would allow
closing. Software connected to a robotic hours of footage to be very quickly
hand is programmed to receive the processed, so security officers could
"close hand" signal and interpret it to identify terrorists or other criminals
mean that the robotic hand should close. caught on surveillance video much more
At that point, when the subject thinks efficiently.The system harnesses the
about closing the hand, the signals are brain's well-known ability to recognize
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an image much faster than the person 1. The brain is incredibly complex.
can identify it."Our human visual system To say that all thoughts or
is the ultimate visual processor" actions are the result of simple
Coupling that with computer vision electric signals in the brain is a
techniques to make searching through gross understatement. There are
large volumes of imagery more about 100 billion neurons in a
efficient."The brain emits a signal as human brain .Each neuron is
soon as it sees something interesting, constantly sending and receiving
and that "aha" signal can be detected by signals through a complex web
an electroencephalogram, or EEG cap. of connections. There are
While users sift through streaming chemical processes involved as
images or video footage, the technology well, which EEGs can't pick up
tags the images that elicit a signal, and on.
ranks them in order of the strength of the 2. The signal is weak and prone to
neural signatures. Afterwards, the user interference. EEGs measure tiny
can examine only the information that voltage potentials. Something as
their brains identified as important, simple as the blinking eyelids of
instead of wading through thousands of the subject can generate much
images."The major weakness of stronger signals. Refinements in
computer vision systems today is their EEGs and implants will probably
narrow range of purpose,a system that is overcome this problem to some
intended to recognize faces and apply it extent in the future, but for now,
to recognizing handwriting or reading brain signals is like
identifying whether one object in a photo listening to a bad phone
is behind another. Unlike a computer, connection. There's lots of static.
which can perform a variety of tasks, a 3. The equipment is less than
computer vision system is highly portable. It's far better than it
customized to the task it is intended to used to be -- early systems were
perform. They are limited in their ability hardwired to massive mainframe
to recognize suspicious activities or computers. But some BCI’s still
events."People, on the other hand, excel require a wired connection to the
at spotting them. The new system's equipment, and those that are
advantage lies in combining the wireless require the subject to
strengths of traditional computer vision carry a computer that can weigh
with human cortical vision.For example, around 10 pounds. Like all
when a computer searches for vehicles, technology, this will surely
it will identify and discard parts of the become lighter and more wireless
image that contain water. The human in the future.
user, who is more likely to easily spot
oddities, can then look only at the parts
of the image that matter. This could
allow time-sensitive searches to be
performed in real time.

Drawbacks
Conclusion
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As we can see there are many
usefull applications of brain computer
interface.It can be very helpfull for
people with moving disabilities as
human - machine interface. But it can be
also used for control of human body
muscles.There are also many
possibilitess in military domain.Last are
are the applications for making our lives
easier. So one day maybe all people are
wearing bci-caps and using hands only
for eating.Or even without caps but with
implants right in CNS.To bring this in
reality it has to been developed more
adaptible bci system and foremost avoid
all risks.

References

www. eelinks.net

www. techon.nikkeibp.co.jp

www.cnn.com

www.wired.com

www.howstuffworks.com

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