Mind-Powered Brain Implant Empowers Users to control devices using brain signals
A new kind of brain implant that can help people control touchscreen devices with their mind is getting closer to reality. A company called Synchron , backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to conduct the first human clinical trial of its brain-computer interface (BCI) device. Video credit: @ NewScientist Synchron's BCI device, called the Stentrode, is different from other brain implants that require open brain surgery. The Stentrode is inserted through a vein in the neck and reaches a part of the brain that controls movement. The device can record and send brain signals to an app, allowing the user to manipulate a cursor or keyboard with their thoughts. The company is recruiting patients with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injury or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) for the six-year-long study. The goal is to evaluate the safety and functionality of the device and to improve the quality of life of the ...