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Topic

Brain-Computer Interfaces

Technologies that link the brain directly to computers or devices, via implanted or external sensors, for medical restoration and neural research.

Current stories

scienceOne report1 publisher

Speech implant has let a man with ALS produce nearly 2 million words, his team reports in Nature Medicine

Casey Harrell, who has ALS, has communicated nearly 2 million words through a brain implant, his team reported in Nature Medicine. The record is one patient's, and the researchers Science News quotes expect others to follow.

Publishers:sciencenews.org

Reality

Evidence55
Adoption8
Hype gap+15
Incentives40
Confidence50
productConfirmed2 publishers

Science Corporation puts its PRIMA retinal chip into a Stargardt disease patient for the first time

Science Corporation has implanted its PRIMA retinal chip in its first Stargardt disease patient, CEO Max Hodak announced at TechCrunch Disrupt. Only one participant's early rehabilitation has been reported so far, so this is a feasibility step for the extension.

Perspective Coverage

3 publishers
Builder
Builder 38%
Operator
Operator 22%
Investor
Investor 40%

Reality

Evidence30
Adoption15
Hype gap+20
Incentives65
Confidence70
productConfirmed2 publishers

Bridge Neurotech bets an ultrasound wearable can open brain interfaces to people who won't have surgery

Bridge Neurotech launched with $13.5 million to build a non-surgical ultrasound brain-computer interface, aimed at people who will not accept a brain implant. The device trades the fast, direct neural signal that lets implant users move robotic arms and type for a slower reading taken from blood flow.

Reality

Evidence50
Adoption5
Hype gap+25
Incentives70
Confidence60
scienceOne report1 publisher

A more human-looking hand drove stronger motor cortex firing in two implanted BrainGate participants

BrainGate researchers found motor cortex firing in two people with tetraplegia was strongest for a photorealistic hand and weakest for an abstract cube. The ordering bears on how assistive devices are shaped, though nobody was controlling anything during the recordings.

Reality

Evidence38
Adoption
Not scored
Hype gap+35
Incentives35
Confidence40
investOne report1 publisher

KAIST sorts a user's unspoken correction into two signals a robot can act on

The neural value alignment work with Microsoft Research Asia decodes brain waves to tell an agent whether its goal or its method was wrong. The speed claim comes from simulations.

Publishers:en.sedaily.com

Reality

Evidence34
Adoption
Not scored
Hype gap+33
Incentives62
Confidence41
productOne report1 publisher

A closed loop inside the magnet: what United Imaging's MRI brain interface can and cannot do

United Imaging and Tianjin University say uMR Shenguan decodes, modulates and measures in one system. The specifications that would let anyone check that are not in the announcement.

Reality

Evidence20
Adoption8
Hype gap+58
Incentives74
Confidence33
investOne report1 publisher

A $499 body scan as a recruitment funnel for brain implants

Neko Health's consumer scan data would reportedly pre-screen candidates for Neuralink's PRIME trial. The interesting part is not the science, it is what the consent form has to cover.

Reality

Evidence20
Adoption
Not scored
Hype gap+58
Incentives
Not scored
Confidence34