BIOTECHNOLOGY
VISUALISING HUMAN THOUGHT
We will soon see a boom in brain-computer interfaces. IDTechEX explores the techniques being developed and the wearables that support them
B
rain-computer interfaces (BCIs), a type of biotechnology commonly called neurobiotech, come
in many forms. They can be non- invasive, integrated into wearable devices, or invasive, meaning they are implanted into the body to work nearer to the brain. A recent report from research company IDTechEx called Brain Computer Interfaces 2025-2045: Technologies, Players, Forecasts, looks at how BCIs read and interpret brain signals in applications such as device control, mind writing, and restoring mobility.
BCI HEADPHONES AND HELMETS Wearing headphones could soon be much more than another way of listening to music, since they can be redesigned to interpret brain data to provide information for more optimised productivity. US-based Neurable is a specialist in this field and is on a mission is to create a BCI that is as useful as a smartphone in daily life, and even more personalised
Non- invasive vs Invasive. Source: IDTechEx Non- invasive
to enhance users’ well-being. Magnetoencephalography (MEG)
helmets could measure magnetic fields around the brain created by the electrical activity of neurons. Such technology has previously been used in large scanning devices, but the emergence of helmets could allow neuroimaging and data about the brain’s activity to be collected more conveniently and functionally while people go about their daily activities. However, further developments would be necessary to adapt this into a consumer BCI device, as the brain’s magnetic fields may be difficult to detect outside of a shielded environment, which may be a barrier to MEG adoption.
INVASIVE BCI APPROACHES An interface that operates on the surface of the brain with minimal invasiveness has been created by a company called Precision to visualise human thoughts. Its thin film technology can cover many areas of the brain, using electrodes to stimulate
Invasive
and simultaneously record thought patterns and translate them into readable information. Similarly, US-based Synchron uses
a small device implanted into a vein to send neurological messages to a separate unit fitted in the chest. The technology can use patients’ thoughts to create clicks and movements on a computer to enable communication without the need for speech or hand movements. California-based Neuralink has
developed a small implant designed to be inserted into the brain which could be used to utilise brain activity in people with movement impairments or paralysis. The Neuralink chip uses tiny electrodes within the brain to allow thought-based device control, with the company hoping to create never before seen possibilities for people living with quadriplegia.
CHALLENGES AND FORECASTS Allowing devices to be user-friendly and accessible while maintaining a high functionality and ability to achieve the best quality data is one of the main challenges outlined by the report. Patient welfare will also remain a top priority with experimental technologies, meaning regulation of such invasive processes will likely be strict. The expense of BCI technologies could also be a barrier to adoption. However, IDTechEx predicts the brain computer interface market to exceed US$ 1.6bn in 2045, highlighting the large scope for growth and development within the sector.
For more information, visit IDTechEx’s latest report:
www.IDTechEx.com/BCI
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