This is an interesting question. Just about every announcement I’ve seen so far has been for a read-only interface (for example, a paralyzed person envisioning moving his hand to make a robot arm move), but this Biohybrid one specifically mentions that they applied a signal (light) to the sensor to see if the mice would respond biologically.
Comment on Biohybrid's Neural Implant Connects to the Brain With Living Neurons
lurch@sh.itjust.works 4 days agodo you guys use fuses, so a hacker or EMP can’t fry the users brain?
will_a113@lemmy.ml 4 days ago
Neuromancer49@midwest.social 4 days ago
Agree, fascinating question. To be precise, they used genetically modified neurons (aka optogenetics) to test if the device can deliver a signal into the brain. Optogenetics incorporates neurons modified with light-sensitive channel proteins, so the neuron activates when a precise wavelength of light is “seen” by the special protein. One of the coolest methods in neuroscience, in my opinion.
“To see if the idea works in practice they installed the device in mice, using neurons genetically modified to react to light. Three weeks after implantation, they carried out a series of experiments where they trained the mice to respond whenever a light was shone on the device. The mice were able to detect when this happened, suggesting the light-sensitive neurons had merged with their native brain cells.”
Neuromancer49@midwest.social 4 days ago
Fantastic question, like Will_a said, I’ve never seen a device designed for input to the brain like this.
In this particular example, if someone were to compromise the device, even though it’s not able to “fry” their brain with direct electricity, they could overload the input neurons with a ton of stimulus. This would likely break the device because the input neurons would die, and it could possibly cause the user to have a seizure depending on how connected the input was to the users brain.
That does bring to mind devices like the one developed by Battelle, where the device reads brain activity and then outputs to a sleeve or cuff designed to stimulate muscles. The goal of the device is to act as a prosthesis for people with spinal cord injuries. I imagine that device was not connected to the internet in any way, but worst case scenario and a hacker compromises the device, they could cause someone’s muscle to sieze up.
thefartographer@lemm.ee 4 days ago
“Do you smell smoke??”
“Yes, I just got a text message. Phone calls taste like bananas”