2017 Volume 37 Issue 2 Pages 181-186
Brain-machine interface (BMI) is a technique to decode and utilize the signals from the central nervous system, or to modify the signals by interacting with the information processing. For example, BMI can be applied to control the wheel chair of a tetraplegic patient by recording the brain activity and reading the motor intention. BMI can be achieved by invasive methods such as implanting chronic electrodes in the brain, or by noninvasive methods such as electroencephalogram recording. Thanks to the accumulated knowledge in the field of neurophysiology, the technology to decode the brain signals is much advanced. However, the technology to modify the information processing of the brain by external stimulation is still in a primitive stage. If the two-way interface of reading-out and writing-into the brain makes further development, it would become possible to treat neuropsychological patients by complimenting their compromised brain function by artificial intelligence.
