Research has already shown the potential for brain-computer interfaces and how people can control machines such as robotic limbs simply by thinking about a certain task.
Now a study out of the University of Washington goes deeper and shows how the process of improving brain-computer skills is very similar to improving simple motor skills like throwing a ball or riding a bike.
That means people who have chips installed in their brains could learn to control robotic limbs more efficiently over time. Or, looking further in the future, this technology could enable people to perform tasks on a computer just by thinking about it — and get better with more practice.
The researchers worked with seven people with severe epilepsy and placed a thin sheet of electrodes directly atop each patient’s brain. The patients were asked to move a mouse cursor using only their thoughts, and researchers then could see the neurological signals moving in the brain.
The study showed that when humans use brain-computer technology, the neurological activity in the brain performs similarly to when accomplishing motor skill-based tasks.
“What we’re seeing is that practice makes perfect with these tasks,” said Rajesh Rao, a UW professor of computer science and engineering and a senior researcher involved in the study. “There’s a lot of engagement of the brain’s cognitive resources at the very beginning, but as you get better at the task, those resources aren’t needed anymore and the brain is freed up.”
The study was published online June 10 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Previously on GeekWire: How this Wi-Fi system enables gesture recognition technology in your house … Cadence receives $1 million defense grant to get wounded soldiers walking again
