Reverse-engineer the brain: Perspectives and challenges

Abstract

The human brain is the control center of the human body, receiving, decoding, and sending sensorial information throughout the body. It is associated with motor skills and cognitive and sensing abilities. Nowadays, certain areas have been identified with specific human functions, such as vision, motor control, and language, etc. However, the human brain is still an unknown mystery. The capability of the brain to reorganize in response to behavior and/or injury, the neuronal pathway defined by the brain to interact with the environment, the process of learning of new information, and the acquisition of new skills are an intensive research field that requires a professional multidisciplinary team. After CNS damage or physical limitations, a human function is completely or partially lost. Neuronal engineering tries to restore this lost connection through technology. To achieve it, modern neurotechnology is focused on the development of new accurate systems to access the neural information, acquire neural signals at high spatial and temporal resolution at the single-cell level, and decode and use it to restore or compensate a lost function. Advances in electronics have allowed us to design new devices, such as neural sensor probes, in the form of microelectrode arrays, which are inserted directly into brain tissue. In this way, the information is extracted directly from the neural source. Depending on the information, it can be used to extract commands and restore the lost pathway or to model the behavior of a brain area. Nowadays, complex mathematical models are implemented to mimic the behavior of a neuron group. The potential is large in this area, since a neural model that is implemented could replace a damaged neuron group in the future. Currently, research lines are intensive in the treatment of patients with disabilities through neural interfaces, such as prostheses for the upper limb, visual prostheses, and brain computer interfaces. However, there is a long way to go, such as the biocompatibility between user and device and selectivity and stimulation of neurons, muscles, and nerves. There is a large open field in this research and technical challenges for the future in the neurorehabilitation field.