BRAIN COMPUTER, INTERFACE AND

ARTIFICIAL BRAIN INTERFACING

MICROELECTRONICS AND HUMAN
VISUAL SYSTEMS

BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACES

BRAIN COMPUTER INTERFACE

Brain-computer interface (BCI) is a fast-growing
emergent technology, in which researchers aim to build a
direct channel between the human brain and the computer.

Brain Computer Interface (BCI) is a collaboration in

which a brain accepts and controls a mechanical device as
a natural part of its representation of the body.

BCI Model

The field of BCI research and

development has since focused primarily

on neuroprosthetics applications that aim

at restoring damaged hearing, sight and

movement.

WHAT IS NEUROPROSTHETIC?
It is the usage of artificial devices to
replace the function of impaired nervous

systems and brain related problems, or of

sensory organs.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN

BCI AND NEUROPROSTHETICS?
Neuroprosthetics typically connect the

nervous system to a device, while BCIs

usually connect the brain (or nervous

system) with a computer system.

BCI APPROACHES

INVASIVE BCIS
Invasive BCIs are implanted directly into the
grey matter of the brain during neurosurgery.
As they rest in the grey matter, invasive
devices produce the highest quality signals of
BCI devices but are prone to scar- tissue buildup, causing the signal to become weaker or
even lost as the body reacts to a foreign object
in the brain.

PARTIALLY INVASIVE BCIS

Partially invasive BCI devices are implanted
inside the skull but rest outside the brain. They
produce better resolution signals than non-invasive
BCIs where the bone tissue of the cranium deflects
and deforms signals and have a lower risk of forming
scar-tissue in the brain than fully invasive BCIs.

ELECTROCORTICOGRAPHY (ECOG)
It measures the electrical activity of the
brain taken from beneath the skull in a
similar way to non-invasive
electroencephalography but the electrodes

are embedded in a thin plastic pad that is

placed above the cortex.

NON-INVASIVE BCIS
Signals recorded in this way have been used to
power muscle implants and restore partial
movement in an experimental volunteer. Although
they are easy to wear, non-invasive implants
produce poor signal resolution

ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY
In conventional scalp EEG, the recording is
obtained by placing electrodes on the scalp with
a conductive gel or paste, usually after

preparing the scalp area by light abrasion to

reduce impedance due to dead skin cells. Many

systems typically use electrodes, each of which

is attached to an individual wire.

FUNCTIONAL MAGNETIC RESONANCE

IMAGING
It exploits the changes in the magnetic
properties of hemoglobin as it carries
oxygen. Activation of a part of the brain
increases oxygen levels there increasing the

ratio of oxyhemoglobin to deoxyhemoglobin.

APPLICATIONS

Provide disabled people with communication,

environment control, and movement restoration.

Provide enhanced control of devices such as wheelchairs,

vehicles, or assistance robots for people with disabilities.

Provide additional channel of control in computer games.

Monitor attention in long-distance drivers or aircraft pilots,

send out alert and warning for aircraft pilots.

Develop intelligent relaxation devices.

Control robots that function in dangerous or

inhospitable situations (e.g., underwater or in extreme
heat or cold).

Create a feedback loop to enhance the benefits of

certain therapeutic methods.

Develop passive devices for monitoring function,

such as monitoring long-term drug effects, evaluating
psychological state, etc.

Monitor stages of sleep

Artificial brains are man-made machines

that are just as intelligent, creative, and selfaware as humans. No such machine has yet
been built, but it is only a matter of time.

RETINAL PROSTHESIS
During the early 1970s, it was found that
blind humans can also perceive electrically
elicited phosphenes in response to ocular
simulation, with a contact lens on the cornea as

the stimulating electrode.

Analysis of eyes, with outer retinal

degeneration suggests that cells are present, but

the retinal circuitry is disrupted. Morphometric
analysis of the retinitis pigmentosa retina has
revealed that many more inner nuclear layer cells
are retained compared to outer nuclear layer, and
ganglion cell layer.

RETINAL IMPLANT
It is a biomedical implant technology
meant to partially restore useful vision to

people who have lost their vision due to

degenerative eye conditions such as

retinitis pigmentosa or macular

degeneration.

Retinal implants provide the user with

low resolution images by electrically
stimulating surviving retinal cells. Such
images may be sufficient in restoring

specific visual abilities, such as light

perception and object recognition.

CORTICAL PROSTHESIS
Many blind individuals would not benefit from
retinal prosthesis because it relies on the circuitry of

the brain to transmit electrical signals from the eye

to the visual cortex. If the circuitry is not functional,

a prosthesis must bypass these systems and

intervene directly at the cortical level.

OPTIC NERVE PROSTHESIS

The optic nerve is electrically stimulated by

externally connected stimulators. The optic nerve

simulations results into phosphene sensitivity over a broad

segment of the visual field. In optic nerve implants, a

camera captures an image and the electrode array
stimulates the optic nerve. After a certion period of
training, the person with optic nerve implant will be able to
form recognition, spacial localization, motion detection,
and color vision.

MECHANICAL EFFECTS OF IMPLANTATION

OF RETINAL PROSTHESIS
The Retinal tissue is delicate and can easily tear or
detach from the back of the eye. The delicate nature of the
retinal tissue can also predispose necrosis by a chronic
implant being placed on it. Increased intraocular pressure,
typical n glaucoma, can lead to damage to the retinal
ganglion cells and significant visual loss. Also, there is an
abundant blood supply within and underneath the retina.
Disruption of this vasculature can lead to chronic
inflammation or new blood vessel formation, both of which
can lead to retinal damage.

ATTACHMENT OF THE IMPLANT OF THE

RETINA
Any implanted device will be exposed to the

ocular movements hence, it requires a stable

fixation to its intended anatomic location. Ocular
rotational movements have been recorded to
reach 700 visual angle/sec. These extreme
movements can dislodge the epiretinal device and
move it away from the required location.

Various approaches of the attachment of the

epiretinal implant or device to the retina such as

bioadhesives, retinal tacks, and magnets have been

considered and tested as some of the methods for

array attachment. Retinal tacks and the electrode

array have been shown to be firmly attached to the

retina for up to 1 year of follow-up with no significant

clinical or histological side effects.