Neurohacking II: Connect yourself! United minds through brain-to-brain interfaces.

The concept of connecting brains directly has intrigued people for a long time, particularly for those with challenges in communication.

Brain-machine interfaces provide a way to link the brain with external devices, potentially enabling mind-to-mind communication.

Brain-machine interfaces are now being explored in reverse, where external devices send information to the brain, influencing specific brain regions. This interaction creates the foundation for a new type of communication known as a brain-to-brain interface (well, it's more brain-computer-brain)

How does brain-to-brain communication work?
Brain-to-brain interfaces are a new technology that allows information to be transferred directly between two brains without using the peripheral nervous system.

This system combines techniques for brain imaging and brain stimulation to send and receive signals between brains.

It consists of two main parts: the brain-computer interface, which reads and converts brain activity into digital information, and the computer-brain interface, which sends the brain signals back to another brain.

Connecting human and animal brains
Recent research has taken this concept further by exploring brain-to-brain systems that allow humans to control the movement of animals using their brain activity. In one such study, researchers enabled a human to control a rat’s behavior in real time.

In the study, the human operator could successfully guide the rat through a maze, showcasing how one organism's brain can control another's movements in real time. Heck, that's amazing!

One of the major challenges in developing an effective brain-to-brain system is ensuring that one brain can control the other's movements quickly and accurately. This task is more complicated than controlling machines because animals and humans have their own will and natural behavior patterns.

To achieve smooth control, researchers used brain signals from a human’s mental picture of movement, which involved thinking about movements without physically performing them. This method allows for more accurate and timely control of the rat’s actions compared to previous visual-based methods.

The study showed that the accuracy of the control instructions is crucial, as even small delays can lead to mistakes in controlling the subject. Additionally, the mental state of the human operator plays a significant role.

Over time, with practice, the operator becomes more attuned to the rat’s movements, leading to better coordination. Another factor is the adaptability of the cyborgs. Rats can adjust to the control system, improving their performance as they learn to anticipate commands.

This research opens up exciting possibilities for brain-to-brain communication, potentially leading to advanced systems that allow for seamless control and coordination between different organisms.

Human-to-human communication
Studies of human brain-to-brain interface technology have shown that when people work together, their brain activity can become synchronized, highlighting the potential of collaboration to enhance brain functions.

Virtual reality environments have also been found to improve attention and training, offering exciting opportunities to explore brain potential.

Recently, a new platform has been introduced. It is an open-source virtual reality system that allows multiple users to interact and collaborate, providing real-time feedback from EEG brain data.

This platform helps researchers better understand brain functions by allowing them to design and run experiments in virtual environments.

Connecting the minds of humans has a wide range of potential uses, especially in healthcare. For example, it has been explored for rehabilitation in patients recovering from brain damage, for communication with people who have conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or locked-in syndrome, and for helping those with speech difficulties after a stroke.

A bit further into the future, a brain-to-brain interface could connect you with your teacher or your lover, or how about a real-time system that could facilitate linking your brain with your data cloud?

Final thoughts - the fine print
While the potential benefits are exciting, the technology also raises important ethical concerns. Imagine, for a start, how this technology could be used in military settings. Or if someone just can't stand their mother-in-law anymore.

The ability to access and manipulate brain information directly brings up issues related to privacy and human rights.

As the systems advance, it is crucial to consider how this technology might impact personal autonomy and privacy, as well as what rules or safeguards are needed to protect individuals from unwanted interference with their brain activity.

But let's stay positive. The idea of connecting human brains with animals, or even other humans, could eventually lead to a massive breakthrough in communication for people with disabilities or the creation of new forms of interaction across species.

In the not-so-far future, it could be possible to create a bidirectional communication system, allowing for a two-way flow of information between brains. Then, you could have a meaningful conversation with your dog!

About the scientific papers:

First author: Shaomin Zhang, China
Published in: Nature Scientific reports
Link to paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-36885-0

First author:  Di Lui, China
Published in: Bioinformatics
Link to paper: https://academic.oup.com/bioinformatics/article/40/12/btae676/7907182