A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) is a direct communication pathway between the brain's electrical activity and an external device, such as a computer or robotic limb. BCIs record brain signals (often using EEG or implanted electrodes), decode them using algorithms, and translate them into commands. This technology allows individuals to control devices using only their thoughts, offering transformative potential for people with motor impairments.
Research into BCIs began in the 1970s at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a grant from the National Science Foundation. Early work focused on restoring damaged hearing and sight. In the 1990s and 2000s, significant progress was made in decoding motor signals, allowing monkeys and eventually humans to control cursors and robotic arms.
BCIs are rapidly evolving from experimental clinical tools to potential consumer products. Companies like Neuralink and Synchron are developing implantable interfaces with high data transmission rates. Applications range from restoring mobility and speech to paralyzed patients to potential future uses in gaming, augmented reality, and cognitive enhancement.