Assessment #7

Research Assessment: Turn Intent Into Action

Name: ​Tanveer, Hebah

Date: ​14 November 2018

Subject: ​Independent Study and Mentorship

MLA Citation:

Zupan, Leslie D. "BrainGate: a new implant may turn intent into action." ​PN - Paraplegia News​,

Nov. 2004, p. 20+. ​Health & Wellness Resource Center,​

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A124790228/HWRC?u=j043905002&sid=HWRC&xid

=41b0868a. Accessed 14 Nov. 2018.

Section 1: Introduction

Cyberkinetics is a biotechnology company in Massachusetts that has developed a cyber

chip that can be implanted into brain of quadriplegic patients. Quadriplegia is the paralysis of all

four limbs, and it’s usually the result of some traumatic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). Often times,

signals used by paralysis patients can be confusing for both the individual and the caregiver.

Cues like joysticks, eye blinking, and head nods take time to learn and master. Cyberkinetics is

developing a microchip called BrainGate; this cyber chip allows patients to control a computer

with their thoughts. The concept is a little backwards; usually bioengineers try to figure out how

to use a computer to control thoughts, but in this scenario, the patient is in complete control.

Cyberkinetics’ ultimate goal? Patient independence.

 Section 2: My Reflections

The leading theory behind traumatic SCI is that the brain still actively sends signals, but

they are lost in translation. In other words, the signals don’t “reach” the extremities (i.e., arms

and legs). BrainGate focuses on finding an alternate pathway. The microchip is less than half a

centimeter wide and contains electrodes that detect electrical activity in the brain’s primary

motor cortex. This region of the brain is responsible for body movement, and this is where the

chip is implanted. The surgery is around five and a half hours long; two hours are taken opening

the cavity, 1 hour is spent placing the implant, and 2 hours are taken closing up the cavity once

again.

Section 3: My Reaction:

Controlling a computer with your thoughts sounds like science fiction, but Cyberkinetics

is working hard to turn intent into action. After surgery, patients are asked to imagine moving

their nonfunctional arms while watching a computer screen. The screen features a single cursor,

and the patients are tasked with moving the cursor using only their imagination. The patients are

given tests to move the cursor specifically to hit a certain target, or to simply hold the cursor in

place. How does the process work? Essentially, the patient’s thoughts generate a neural signal

that is interpreted by an advanced computer interface.

Section 4: Current Situation

 This article was written in 2004, and at the time, brain implants were no new concept.

Over 50,000 patients in the United States had brain implants to control things like Parkinson’s

and Epilepsy. The most common use of a brain implant would be a cochlear implant to improve

hearing in deaf patients. Cyberkinetics says in the article that they, as a company, hope to “make

a commercial market in the next 4 years.” When I took a look at their website, it appears that

they did make some progress in clinical testing with the FDA. In the article, Cyberkinetics

mentions future plans to allow patients to operate switch based and other simple equipments

using BrainGate. Additionally, the company dreamed of creating a wireless version of BrainGate

that integrates seamlessly with more than just one assisted device. Currently, this is unattainable

given the amount of information processed through the electrodes. The most recent date of

recorded research is 2013, so it can be assumed that the company is still working to perfect

BrainGate.