2018-1-6 The next frontier

Brain-computer interfaces may change what it means to be human

人机接口也许会改变人的定义。

TECHNOLOGIES are often billed as transformative. For William Kochevar, the term is justified. Mr Kochevar is paralysed below the shoulders after a cycling accident, yet has managed to feed himself by his own hand. This remarkable feat is partly thanks to electrodes, implanted in his right arm, which stimulate muscles. But the real magic lies higher up. Mr Kochevar can control his arm using the power of thought. His intention to move is reflected in neural activity in his motor cortex; these signals are detected by implants in his brain and processed into commands to activate the electrodes in his arms.

科技常被誉为具有革命性。对于威廉·克切沃来说，这个说法很合适。克切沃先生在一场自行车事故后肩部以下瘫痪，虽然他还能够用自己的双手吃饭。这份功劳很大程度上归功于内植入他右臂的刺激肌肉的电极。但真正神奇的地方在更高层处。克切沃先生能用意念控制他的手臂。他移动的意图被反映在他运动皮质层里的神经活动中。这些信号被他大脑内的植入物检测到，经过总部处理来激活手臂里的电极。

• paralyze v.使瘫痪 feat n.功绩 electrode n.电极；motor cortex 运动皮质层

• be billed as 被誉为

An ability to decode thought in this way may sound like science fiction. But brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) like the BrainGate system used by Mr Kochevar provide evidence that mind-control can work. Researchers are able to tell what words and images people have heard and seen from neural activity alone. Information can also be encoded and used to stimulate the brain. Over 300,000 people have cochlear implants, which help them to hear by converting sound into electrical signals and sending them into the brain. Scientists have “injected” data into monkeys’ heads, instructing them to perform actions via electrical pulses.

以这种方式解码思想听起来像科幻小说。但是脑门系统一样被克切沃先生所使用的脑机接口能证明意念控制是可行的。研究院们能够分辨出人们从神经活动中听到的声音和看到的图片。信息同样能被编码和刺激大脑。超过300000人有耳蜗植入装置，这种装置通过把声音转换成电信号送入电脑以帮助他们的听力。科学家已将数据“注入”猴子的头部，通过电子脉冲控制它们的活动。