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Ultrathin Silk-Based Brain Implants

Posted by samzenpus on from the smooth-thinking dept.

hatboyzero writes "University of Pennsylvania engineers have designed silk-based electronics that can stick to the surface of the brain, allowing for better brain-computer interfaces. The researchers say the silk-based devices are thin and flexible enough to reach previously inaccessible areas of the brain."

15 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. Next steps, please by Thanshin · · Score: 5, Funny

    Ok. I've got the guy's brain in the silk bag, how do I set up the interface now?

    1. Re:Next steps, please by idji · · Score: 5, Funny

      it's really often very scary what gets tagged informative or funny on slashdot.

    2. Re:Next steps, please by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

      I don't know if it's the case, but I think at some point in the past, some people decided to stop using "Funny" because the combination of a "+1 Funny" with a "-1 Overrated" ended up being a -1 on karma, which could make a single unevenly popular joke empty any amount of karma.

  2. Oblig XKCD by rachit · · Score: 5, Informative

    http://xkcd.com/644/

  3. What can we access from the brain surface? by !eopard · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The brain is a three dimensional matrix, however TFA only mentions wrapping around what appears to be the outer surface of the brain. How much of the brains' functions are available purely via the outer surface?

    --
    Boolean logic: True, False, and File not found.
    1. Re:What can we access from the brain surface? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Quite a bit is localized to the cortex, such as motor control. It's also used for higher thought, but that's too random to really do much with. Humans have the most advanced cortex of any animal, although that also means it's thicker (1.5 - 4.5 mm), which may present the problem you propose.

    2. Re:What can we access from the brain surface? by Hurricane78 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Luckily it doesn’t matter much. It’s not about what we can access. (There is a much better interface to that, called speech! ;)
      It’s about plain interfacing. With feedback. And in that matter, the brain can without any trouble reconfigure itself (=training/learning) to do whatever you want.
      It’s what you do all day long anyway.

      Remember those experiments where they stuck a couple of wires in a monkey’s head, and he “magically” learned to use them to control a robotic arm... in addition to his other limbs!
      That’s what I mean.

      If you know how a (really any) dynamic neural net works, it’s obvious. (But it gets harder with old age. Though I think there are drugs that can partially undo it. But you don’t want to mess with those, since it’s the same thing as forgetting old habits... and you may find yourself forgetting someone or how to do something important.)

      I have no doubt, that you can train yourself to send any patterns of signals over those wires. And sense anything that’s coming in As long as they are below your brain’s maximum resolution (in time and space) and in the proper voltage/current range.

      --
      Any sufficiently advanced intelligence is indistinguishable from stupidity.
    3. Re:What can we access from the brain surface? by pieisgood · · Score: 3, Informative

      The brains cortex is where all the processing is done. When we go deeper into the brain what you get are long axons that interconnect regions of the brain. In the middle of the brain is the corpus collosum which acts an information transfer center from the left to the right brain and vice versa. Now the cortex its self is a 3 dimensional matrix, as you said. I doubt we will be able to (in any near future scenario) build small enough electrodes and exact placement techniques as to make brain implants that function perfectly along side our own brain activity. This silk interface is good for rough signaling and signal reception... which is a great first step. /tangent

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      Eat sleep die
  4. Bring it on by Wolvenhaven · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Just what I want, pop ups in my head triggering all my senses. Although 90% of it will be porn so we shouldn't complain. Along with that, full sensory recording would be really cool.

    --
    Orwell was an optimist.
  5. Reminds me of Beneath a Steel Sky by Cryacin · · Score: 3, Funny

    Robert Foster: I need a neuroport like I need a hole in my head.
    Doctor: Ummmm... it is a hole in your head.

    --
    Science advances one funeral at a time- Max Planck
  6. Re:AAAIIIEEE ! by weirdcrashingnoises · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't worry, they should have a patch for that next week!

    --
    sigs... don't talk to me about sigs....
  7. Engineering Fashion Analogies ... by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Engineers have now designed silk-based electronics that stick to the surface of the brain, similar to the way a silk dress clings to the hips.

    From TFA. Now, what is on those engineers' minds . . . ?

    Can someone tell me what the Large Hadron Collider is with a woman's fashion analogy . . . ?

    "The Large Hadron Collider is leaking liquid helium again today . . . it's like having a run in your stockings. It has been patched with nail polish."

    --
    Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
  8. It gives a whole new meaning to... by stevediver · · Score: 4, Funny

    cobwebs on the brain.

  9. Made in... by ZirconCode · · Score: 3, Funny

    Made in China

  10. Re:Breaking And Entering by Lotana · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I don't know if I'm ready to go sticking stuff in there, especially in light of evolution's work to keep stuff out, and, our still insufficient knowledge of the brain.

    No one is talking about starting to implanting things right now. These are the first steps. Of course researchers will be careful to make sure it is safe (Or at least worth the risk) before starting human trials.

    And this is a very important area of study. Imagine someone that is paralysed or missing a limb. If we can build artificial limbs and able to interface it directly without causing infections or rejections, this will substantially improve their quality of life!

    This is actually very exciting news. We should definitely pursue this as much as we can.