Brain-computer interface (BCI) 2021 year in review 🧵
2021 was a big year! We saw an intracortical BCI decode handwriting, the 1st country to pass a bill on neuro-rights, & much more
Below we cover the most exciting BCI updates across academia, industry, & public policy
2021 was a big year! We saw an intracortical BCI decode handwriting, the 1st country to pass a bill on neuro-rights, & much more
Below we cover the most exciting BCI updates across academia, industry, & public policy
Decoding imagined handwriting
Until now, BCIs have been far from the information rate of typing or speaking
By decoding imagined handwriting, researchers have achieved 90 chars/min
This is faster than the rate of *actual* handwriting (40 chars/min)!
Until now, BCIs have been far from the information rate of typing or speaking
By decoding imagined handwriting, researchers have achieved 90 chars/min
This is faster than the rate of *actual* handwriting (40 chars/min)!
https://twitter.com/WillettNeuro/status/1392498964318998540?s=20
Monkey MindPong
A monkey implanted w/ @neuralink N1 Link played Pong just by thinking about where to move the paddle on screen
While a fun milestone, it’s an important step towards their goal of restoring physical capabilities for people w/ paralysis
neuralink.com/blog/monkey-mi…
A monkey implanted w/ @neuralink N1 Link played Pong just by thinking about where to move the paddle on screen
While a fun milestone, it’s an important step towards their goal of restoring physical capabilities for people w/ paralysis
neuralink.com/blog/monkey-mi…
What rights do you have over your thoughts?
Chile took a 1st pass at this question by giving their citizens the right to mental privacy, free will, etc.
Neuro-rights remains a highly debated topic as policymakers begin to realize the importance of BCIs
spectrum.ieee.org/neurotech-neur…
Chile took a 1st pass at this question by giving their citizens the right to mental privacy, free will, etc.
Neuro-rights remains a highly debated topic as policymakers begin to realize the importance of BCIs
spectrum.ieee.org/neurotech-neur…
"Neural pacemaker" treats depression
This group figured out a way to automatically detect when you’re feeling depressed and then send tiny electrical pulses to stop it
nature.com/articles/s4159…
This group figured out a way to automatically detect when you’re feeling depressed and then send tiny electrical pulses to stop it
nature.com/articles/s4159…
https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1445048582617411593
Bringing real-life hand gestures into VR with CTRL-Labs
@meta has been quiet about their acquisition of CTRL-labs in 2019
@RealityLabs demoed how they use neural EMG signals from the wrist to control VR, based on CTRL-labs research
@meta has been quiet about their acquisition of CTRL-labs in 2019
@RealityLabs demoed how they use neural EMG signals from the wrist to control VR, based on CTRL-labs research
https://twitter.com/schrep/status/1372568994738180098?s=20
Neuralink former President @maxhodak_ left Neuralink and raised $47M for his new BCI company Science
Science is taking a fresh approach by targeting the cranial nerves rather than the brain
They’re aiming to make the sensorium directly programmable
Science is taking a fresh approach by targeting the cranial nerves rather than the brain
They’re aiming to make the sensorium directly programmable
https://twitter.com/maxhodak_/status/1435345938629890050
Recording deep neurons from their dendrites
How do you optically image neurons that are deep in cortex?
Instead of imaging cell bodies, this approach images their dendrites which are closer to the surface!
nature.com/articles/s4146…
How do you optically image neurons that are deep in cortex?
Instead of imaging cell bodies, this approach images their dendrites which are closer to the surface!
nature.com/articles/s4146…
Patient with @synchroninc BCI tweets directly from brain
Most high fidelity BCIs require drilling through the skull
Synchron’s novel, less invasive approach puts their BCI in the brain’s blood vessels instead
Most high fidelity BCIs require drilling through the skull
Synchron’s novel, less invasive approach puts their BCI in the brain’s blood vessels instead
https://twitter.com/tomoxl/status/1473724411073212426?s=20
Decoding speech in a paralyzed person with anarthria
A high-density, invasive BCI combined with deep learning language decoding models allowed a paralyzed individual who lost the ability to speak to communicate at a rate of 15.2 words/min
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
A high-density, invasive BCI combined with deep learning language decoding models allowed a paralyzed individual who lost the ability to speak to communicate at a rate of 15.2 words/min
nejm.org/doi/full/10.10…
Official FDA guidance for BCIs
The @us_fda released official guidance on how BCI companies w/ invasive implants can collaborate w/ the FDA to effectively receive approval
Very exciting to see the FDA recognize & support the fast rate of BCI development!
fda.gov/regulatory-inf…
The @us_fda released official guidance on how BCI companies w/ invasive implants can collaborate w/ the FDA to effectively receive approval
Very exciting to see the FDA recognize & support the fast rate of BCI development!
fda.gov/regulatory-inf…
Imaging 1M neurons w/ two-photon microscopy
A new record for # of neurons that were recorded from simultaneously!
With this new technique researchers were able to record 1M neurons at 2.2 Hz, meaning they can look for patterns across the mouse's cortex
nature.com/articles/s4159…
A new record for # of neurons that were recorded from simultaneously!
With this new technique researchers were able to record 1M neurons at 2.2 Hz, meaning they can look for patterns across the mouse's cortex
nature.com/articles/s4159…
FDA authorizes 1st stroke rehab BCI
Neurolutions received FDA clearance for their IpsiHand exoskeleton that helps stroke patients control their hands & arms w/ their thoughts, ultimately improving recovery
They plan on commercializing their device soon
medicine.wustl.edu/news/stroke-re…
Neurolutions received FDA clearance for their IpsiHand exoskeleton that helps stroke patients control their hands & arms w/ their thoughts, ultimately improving recovery
They plan on commercializing their device soon
medicine.wustl.edu/news/stroke-re…
Kernel shipped their first product! They also released the details of their two products, Flow and Flux
Flow:
Flux:
Flow:
Flux:
https://twitter.com/KernelCo/status/1420149040763654144?s=20
How will BCIs influence mixed reality?
@galea_xr paired up with Valve and Tobii to bring their hardware/software platform, designed to measure emotions and facial expressions, to game devs who can use it to create next-gen immersive experiences
vrfocus.com/2021/02/tobii-…
@galea_xr paired up with Valve and Tobii to bring their hardware/software platform, designed to measure emotions and facial expressions, to game devs who can use it to create next-gen immersive experiences
vrfocus.com/2021/02/tobii-…
BCI startup fundraising highlights
Blackrock Neurotech: 10M round
@neuralink: $205M series C
@OpenBCI: first funding round
@paradromics: $20M seed
Precision Neuroscience: $12M series A
@Rune_Labs: $22.8M series A
@wisprAI: $4.6M seed
Blackrock Neurotech: 10M round
@neuralink: $205M series C
@OpenBCI: first funding round
@paradromics: $20M seed
Precision Neuroscience: $12M series A
@Rune_Labs: $22.8M series A
@wisprAI: $4.6M seed
Thanks to @raffi_hotter, @_marleyx, Huy Nguyen, Natalie Cygan, & many others for helping write this
Please let me know if you think we missed anything!
We're looking forward to seeing all of the incredible BCI advancements in 2022! 🎉
Please let me know if you think we missed anything!
We're looking forward to seeing all of the incredible BCI advancements in 2022! 🎉
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