Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative

Thy in News ? Former U.S. President Barack Obama announces the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative in Washington on April 2, 2013.

The story so far:

The brain remains humanity’s final frontier. In the decades ahead, neurotechnology will stretch the boundaries of what it means to understand, and even shape, the functioning of the human brain.

What is neurotechnology?

• Neurotechnology is the use of mechanical tools to talk directly to the brain.
• It includes systems that can record, monitor, or even influence neural activity, opening up new ways to understand how the mind works and, consequently, how it might be repaired or enhanced.
• Drawing on advances in neuroscience, AI, engineering, and computing, these devices can now sense or stimulate brain signals in real time.
• At the heart of this revolution is the Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), a technology that blends neuroscience and computing to translate thoughts into action. BCIs can turn brain signals into digital commands that control a computer cursor, a wheelchair, or even a robotic arm. Some systems rely on non-invasive sensors, such as EEG headsets; others use implanted electrodes for more precise control.
• A BCI essentially listens to the brain, decodes its signals, and can turn them into instructions for a prosthetic to follow.
• Some devices are purely diagnostic, helping scientists study brain disorders or cognitive function. Others go further, allowing paralysed patients to move prosthetic limbs, or stimulating certain brain regions to treat depression or Parkinson’s disease.
• In labs, researchers have even managed to connect the brains of two mice, transmitting simple information from one to the other. But human applications remain mostly therapeutic for now, focused on rehabilitation, neuroprosthetics, and mental health. The idea of using such interfaces for human enhancement or military advantage is technically likely but will need fierce ethical debate before its use.

Why does India need it?

• India carries a significant neurological disease burden, from strokes and spinal cord injuries to Parkinson’s disease and depression. Between 1990 and 2019, the share of non-communicable and injury-related neurological disorders in India’s overall disease load rose steadily, with stroke emerging as the largest contributor.
• For those living with paralysis, neuroprosthetics could restore mobility and communication. For mental health patients, targeted neural stimulation offers the possibility of reducing long-term dependence on medication. But the opportunity extends far beyond healthcare. Neurotechnology sits at the intersection of biotechnology, engineering, and AI, sectors where India is rapidly developing global competence.

Where does India stand today?

• India is creating academic and private sector strengths in neurotechnologies. IIT Kanpur researchers recently unveiled a BCI-based robotic hand that could be useful for stroke patients. The National Brain Research Centre in Manesar, and the Brain Research Centre at IISc, Bangalore are leading research centres for neuroscience.
• Dognosis, a startup, is using neurotechnology to study brain signals in dogs, aiming to detect the neural patterns that occur when they recognise the scent of cancer in human breath samples. This is an application of neurotechnology used in animals but with the potential to revolutionise cancer screening in humans.

What are other countries doing?

• The U.S. is the global leader in neurotechnologies. The NIH’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative, is a partnership between federal and non-federal partners to accelerate the development of innovative neurotechnologies.
• In May 2024, Neuralink received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for in-human trials of its BCI and has already demonstrated the ability of its BCIs to restore some prosthetic-enabled motor function in paralytic patients.

The China Brain Project (2016-2030) focuses on understanding cognition, developing brain-inspired AI, and treating neurological disorders. EU and Chile are pioneering laws for BCIs and neurorights.

• Neurotechnologies are a set of emerging technologies with a wide set of applications in healthcare to gaming to recreation. These are important for India not only from a mental health perspective but also as an economic opportunity.
• Given the nascency of the field, there is much progress to be made and India’s genomic diversity, available expertise and increasing awareness about brain research positions India as a potential hub for its development.

 

Challenges :

• However, if there is inadequate regulatory support, BCI development and adoption will be thwarted. A public engagement strategy to discuss the benefits and risks of BCIs would help in understanding public perception of these technologies.
• Instead of a singular policy for all BCIs, tailored regulatory pathways for the different types of BCIs based on their benefits and risks would help development of beneficial BCIs in the Indian context. A regulatory pathway that assesses BCI on technical and ethical aspects, including ensuring data privacy and user autonomy is of utmost need.

 About Brain-Computer Interface (BCI):

A Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), also known as a Brain-Machine Interface (BMI), is a system that establishes a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device, such as a computer or a robotic limb.

The core function of a BCI is to acquire brain signals, analyze them, and translate them into commands that are relayed to an output device to carry out a desired action, completely bypassing the body’s normal neuromuscular output pathways (peripheral nerves and muscles).

How a BCI System Works?

A typical BCI system consists of four main components:

1. Signal Acquisition: Sensors record electrical, metabolic, or other signals produced by the brain. The quality of the signal depends heavily on the type of BCI used (see below).
2. Signal Processing: The recorded signals are amplified, filtered to remove noise (like electrical interference or muscle movement), and digitized.
3. Feature Extraction and Translation: The system analyzes the digital signals to distinguish pertinent characteristics (features) related to the user’s intent. Using algorithms, often based on machine learning, these features are decoded and translated into commands. The user often undergoes training to produce signals the BCI recognizes, and the BCI learns to decode them.
4. Output Device: The translated commands are sent to a device (e.g., a cursor, a prosthetic arm, a wheelchair) to execute the user’s intended action.