Despite recent advancements, mind implants remain invasive and unreliable. A groundbreaking innovation in harnessing dwelling neurons to forge novel connections could revolutionize the future.
While advancements in brain-computer interfaces, such as those pioneered by Neuralink, have shown promising results, the technology still faces significant hurdles hindering broader adoption.
While non-invasive methods like EEGs provide coarse readings of neural activity, their limited performance restricts their effectiveness. Implanting electrodes directly into the brain can establish a significantly clearer connection, but such invasive medical interventions are challenging to justify except in the most extraordinary situations.
A California-based startup, Science Company, is exploring the potential of an implant that leverages existing neurons in the brain to enhance both security and precision. A neural interface prototype has been developed that enables seamless integration with mouse brains, allowing for real-time detection of subtle stimuli.
“The primary advantages of biohybrid implants lie in their potential to revolutionize the scope of neural interfaces by enabling significantly more neurons to be connected while minimizing damage to the brain,”
Max Hodak, CEO of the corporation, previously served as president at Neuralink; his company also develops a retinal implant using advanced electronics that can benefit certain patients. The company is exploring “biohybrid” methods, a concept that Hodak believes could offer a more sustainable long-term solution for brain-computer interfaces.
“Every attempt to inscribe an idea inevitably sacrifices a fragment of cognitive integrity,” he penned starkly. “Deleting 10,000 cells to retrieve data from 1,000 could be justifiable only when a critical threat exists, as a small number of neurons can hold significant value; however, this approach still harms the scaling attribute.”
The corporation has designed an innovative structure comprising a honeycomb-like configuration crafted from silicon, featuring over 100,000 microscopic “microwells” – minute cylindrical recesses approximately 15 micrometers in depth. Intricate microscopic devices, comprising individual neuron-like entities, are precisely placed within each micro-well, allowing for a complex neural network to be created on a minuscule scale. This intricate array is subsequently surgically implanted onto the surface of the brain, enabling groundbreaking research and potential therapeutic applications.
While neurons within implanted devices remain contained, their axonal extensions and dendritic branches are designed to freely interact with the host brain’s neural networks.
Scientists tested the concept by inserting a genetically engineered neuron module into mice, designed to respond to mild stimuli. Three weeks following implantation, researchers conducted a series of tests in which they trained the mice to respond consistently whenever a light was flashed onto the apparatus. The mice, having developed the ability to perceive this phenomenon, implied that their light-sensitive neurons had integrated seamlessly with their native neural architecture.
While still in its infancy, this approach boasts several crucial benefits. Innovative engineering enables the packing of an extraordinary number of neurons within a tiny, millimetre-sized chip, allowing each neuron to forge numerous connections. The theoretical bandwidth of a biohybrid device could potentially far surpass that of a conventional neural implant. The strategy can be significantly less damaging to the affected individual’s mental well-being.
Despite their transient nature, the lifespan of such units remains a pressing concern – after just 21 days, only half of the neurons had persisted. The corporation must develop a means to prevent the neurons from eliciting an adverse immune response in the patient.
While the strategy succeeds, merging human and artificial intelligence could prove a more prudent and secure approach.
