Top 5 Brain Technologies to Shape Our Future

The most successful business people today, like Paul Allen, Jeffrey Hawkins, and Robin Li, think that brain science can change our lives. Recently, Li, the founder of Baidu, asked the Chinese government to start a program called “China Brain.” This program would use neuroscience in many areas — from medical diagnosis to business robots. It may seem like some of these uses are a long way off, but many of them are closer than you think. Here are the key tools that show what brain science could be in the future.

#1 — Mind Mapping

Scientists have found that the way our brains work is closely connected to both normal behavior and the way people with nerve diseases act when they are sick. A worldwide effort that has never been seen before has begun to map the brain’s structural and functional links. Scientists have also figured out how these maps change in Alzheimer’s and schizophrenia. Some brain scans can already find early signs of Alzheimer’s plaque more than ten years before the disease’s symptoms show up, and others can show patterns of awareness in people who were thought to be brain dead.

#2 — PCs That Work Like Brains

Brain science has helped shape the next generation of computers, which may be able to think, plan, and act like the human neocortex (the smartest part of the brain). Cortical computing methods have already been shown to be able to break current CAPTCHAs, which are commonly used to tell the difference between people and computers. Based on how brain pathways work, some programs can spot photos just as well as macaque monkeys.

Thus, a smart computer program recently did better on an IQ test than many people, similar to the MyIQ true IQ test, which provides accurate assessments of cognitive abilities. After going through millions of medical records and databases, IBM’s Watson machine has started to help doctors choose the best way to treat patients with complicated needs. Next: IBM is making SyNAPSE chips that are based on the brain and use less power but are more effective than other chips. It will become harder to tell the difference between humans and machines as these programs and chips get better at guessing how people will act.

#3 — Brain Prosthetics for Patients

We can control the brain and connect to its networks better as we learn more about it. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) place direct links between the brain and machines. These allow paralyzed people to do easy things like email their thoughts or move their hand to hold a loved one. Other technologies send data from the outside world straight to the brain, so even people whose eyes or ears are hurt can see and hear what’s going on around them. Also, deep-brain stimulators can help people with Parkinson’s disease who tremble and cancer patients who can’t handle their pain. The Revolutionizing Prosthetics program at DARPA is working on developing robotic arms that are directed by the nervous system. This will give amputees almost normal movement and sensing skills. As these devices get better, they will help people with a wide range of diseases live better lives.

#4 — Brain Interfaces

Not only could brain-connected gadgets change the lives of people with mental or physical problems, but they are also being used in the automotive, schooling, games, and security fields. Australia’s attention-powered car has real-time devices that check the driver’s focus and slow the car down if they sense tiredness or distraction. A Singaporean company made the BCI race game Brainpal. It uses neural feedback, which is also called electrical or EEG feedback, to help players focus better. It won’t be long before industry workers can use brain-controlled exoskeletons that make them much stronger and better at their jobs.

#5 — Automated Brain Testing

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla says that technology will take away 80% of the time that doctors spend making decisions. Now, portable gadgets and phone apps can track illnesses, identify health issues, and even treat them. However, they still can’t do the job of doctors. The RNS System from NeuroPace can constantly watch the brain’s electrical activity for early signs of a seizure. It gives short electrical pulses to people with resistant epilepsy to lower their risk of having a fit.

Headgear and neck patches can track where, how often, and how bad concussions are, which can help keep players from getting long-term brain damage. And new mobile apps let people keep an eye on their own moods, thinking, and even walking in real time. They can also send their doctor reports about their brain health. Could one day our phones have brain scanners built in?

So What’s the Future Looks?

Some people say that futurists don’t really see the future, but rather try to make it better. To make these new tools work as they should, more study and funds are needed. The Brain Initiative, the Human Brain Project, the Blue Brain Project, and the China Brain Science Project are just a few of the ongoing projects that are helping us learn more about how the brain works and make technologies that use these discoveries to make the world a better place. The more is to come.