Brain-Computer Interfaces, or BCIs for short, are all over the news (like here and here). These systems – which can be implanted into the brain – have the potential to help people with neurological conditions control devices (from mobile phones to robotic arms) using only their thoughts.Headlines often use futuristic terms like ‘mind reading’. These phrases might grab our attention, but they could also distort our understanding of what BCIs are capable of (and what they are not).In this episode, we interviewed Dr. Hunter Schone, BCI expert and post-doctoral researcher at the University of Pittsburgh. We discussed what a BCI looks like, how they can help patients with severe clinical disorders, and the roles of universities, companies, and regulators have in their development. We also discuss the work that needs to be done before these devices are made more widely available for patients.This is an episode to watch: from 09.42 you’ll see our jaws DROP when Hunter pulled out a 3D model of a patient’s brain to demonstrate how BCIs work!This episode is the first of our neuroscience series, produced by PhD student Chloe Carrick, Youth Advisor Anushka De, and Research Fellow Dr. Kathryn Bates. New episodes for this series will be released on the first Monday of the month. Click the subscribe button on this page to get them straight to your inbox.Resources* Read more about the work of the Rehab Neural Engineering Labs at the University of Pittsburgh* Watch this video with Dr. Sergey Stavisky on how BCIs have been used to restore speech in participants with ALS* UCLH launches a clinical trial of Neuralink’s N1 Implant: The GB-PRIME StudyWhat you’ll find in this episode* 07.40 - What is a brain-computer interface and how does it work?* 09.42 - How are brain-computer interfaces inserted into the brain and how do they operate?* 16.32 - Can brain-computer interfaces read your mind? What are the limits?* 19.33 - Current advancements in supporting speech* 22.14 - Importance of managing expectations of what they are capable of* 24.35 - What Neuralink is currently capable of* 28.44 - What happens to the data extracted?* 32.00 - Can the public trust companies to handle this technology and the data produced?* 36.45 - Everybody’s brain is different. How can we be sure these technologies will work for many people?* 43.50 - Current advancements in supporting vision * 47.00 - Hopes for the futureThe views and opinions expressed by guests on this podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or The Science or Fiction Podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.scienceorfiction.co.uk

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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