Brain Implants

As a continuation of the themes we talked about when we read Neuromancer, I’d like to talk about some recent improvements in the field of brain implants. Prior to a new development in brain implantation technology, the electrodes attached to implants were limited to about 100 due to bulky wires having to be attached to each and every one. This technology has been mainstream since the mid twentieth century and hasn’t changed much until just recently. The problem with such a low number of electrodes is that it can’t provide a very clear picture of brain activity, which could possibly lead doctors to overdo treatments and do invasive procedures when not necessarily needed.

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have recently developed a new type of sensor array that can fit 360 sensors into its much less bulky surface. It’s said to give a roughly 50 times better resolution than its predecessor, which could revolutionize the treatment of epilepsy and other disorders caused by incorrect brain function. Scientists’ biggest need, in terms of brain treatment, is to get a clearer picture of what’s going on inside the brain itself. By researching healthy brains then comparing them to unhealthy ones, they are likely going to be able to pinpoint problem areas and potentially treat them specifically.

I think this is really cool. I wasn’t even aware that brain implants actually existed at all. This reminds me a lot of Neuromancer, except it’s different in that these are necessities rather than leisure items. It’s very interesting to me that people can have their illnesses “diagnosed” with the help of a little chip that can be put in their head. It seems like science fiction, even to me. I hope that in the coming days the scientists working on these new implants will continue to increase the number of sensors they can fit per unit area, and I hope these increases will lead to new developments in the field of medicine and anatomy. I think this technology has a whole lot o f possibility even beyond what it already does.