“Mind-Reading” Machines

Abstract

How do we know how the brain works? Doctors cannot open the skull like a jar of candy and close the lid afterward… or can they? In fact, putting electrical wires into human brains has been safely performed for many years. These devices, termed brain-machine interfaces, can help doctors and scientists record electrical signals from the brain, to tell them how the brain interacts with the world. Researchers are using this technique to improve the quality of paralyzed patients’ lives and to build brain-controlled game prototypes. Though powerful, brain-machine interfaces still face many challenges. Does this sound like a field that you might want to pursue? Keep reading to find out more!