These Computers Know What You’re Thinking

Abstract

Researchers are developing brain-computer interfaces that could be used to operate prosthetic devices, play games, and help astronauts perform repairs. BCI research has also led to the discovery of "brain fingerprints", biometrics that could help identify individuals and allow authenticated access to computers, cars, and buildings. Typically, BCIs feed electroencephalography (EEG) readings into a computer to direct an action, such as moving a computer cursor or operating a wheelchair or mechanism such as a prosthetic or robotic arm. EEG signals represent the brain's electrical activity; they're usually collected through electrodes that touch the scalp and are distributed in a cap resting on a layer of gel on the head. As a person thinks or performs an action, the EEGs are collected, amplified, digitized, and analyzed. Training people to use BCI devices usually takes several sessions because EEG patterns change over time and the system thus needs updating, a process called discontinuous adaptation