Beijing Daily reported that on Thursday, May 4, China achieved the world's first brain-computer interface (BCI) experiment on a non-human primate.
As a result of the experiment, monkeys were able to control a robotic arm with their thoughts, demonstrating the successful implementation of a brain-computer interface. The results of the experiment have established China as a leader in this technology.
China Succeeds on World's First Brain-Computer Interface Experiment on a Monkey, Now at the Forefront of Technology War
World's First BCI Experiment on Non-human Primates
Scientists at Nankai University have completed the world's first interventional BCI experiment on non-human primates, marking significant advancements in brain science technology.
World first! #China completed the interventional brain-computer interface non-human primate experiment in #Beijing. pic.twitter.com/Nwmqd7V2tW
— Beijing Daily (@DailyBeijing) May 5, 2023
According to the Chinese news outlet Xinhua, the experiment involved building a BCI to the monkey's brain, allowing scientists to successfully identify and collect electroencephalography signals to achieve control over a mechanical arm with the animal.
Duan Feng, the team leader and a professor at Nankai University, said that this experiment was significant for advancing research in the field of brain science. He also added that China's BCI technology has ranked among the world's top level.
An interventional electroencephalograph was used to attach to the monkey's cerebrovascular wall through minimally invasive surgery, following which technicians were able to identify and collect electroencephalograph (EEG) signals. Active control of a mechanical arm was performed using these signals.
Ma Yongjie, who is participating in the interventional BCI experiment project, told Beijing Daily that the successful experiment represents a "leap forward" in China's EEG signals technologies.
The breakthrough demonstrates a transition from passively collecting EEG signals to actively controlling them. This strong foundation paves the way for future innovations and research in the development of more advanced brain-computer interfaces.
Interventional Versus Invasive BCI
In comparison to standard invasive and non-invasive BCI, interventional BCI has balanced recognition stability and safety, delivering a breakthrough in EEG collecting in blood vessels and interventional EEG identification.
As per a similar report from the Chinese news website ECNS.cn, the invasive type of BCI involves surgery to install electrodes around the cerebral cortex region. According to industry experts, this mode provides the most accurate EEG; but it may cause the body harm, leading to an inflammatory reaction and rejection.
On the other hand, non-invasive BCI technology uses the epicranium to collect EEG. It is a safer mode than invasive technology, but the EEG quality is inferior. Thirdly, the interventional BCI sits between the two and connects the brain to the computer via minimally invasive surgery comparable to a cardiac stent. It is less dangerous than invasive technology and gives better EEG quality than non-invasive technology.
BCI technology is used to connect the human brain to a computer to control machines or prosthetics. However, Ma has estimated that the interventional BCI technology will not be mature enough for clinical use before five years or even longer.
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