Amy looks at me, "We've a guest in the house this week, He's Professor Doctor Andreas Türkirchen from the University of Zurich where he works in their Brain Research Institute. I should introduce you. You may not already know him, but he's a big deal around the AI circuit."
She took me to a large office or small conference room, knocked gingerly on the door and then let us both in.
"Herr Doktor Türkirchen, let me introduce you to Oliver Wells, who will be working on the Cyclone project."
He looked only a few years older than me, yet had attained the title of Full Professor, which in Switzerland was a big deal. No. In the world, it was a big deal.
We shook hands, slightly awkwardly and then he introduced himself more fully.
"Welcome to Brant and the world of research. This topic in which we share an interest still amazes me and shows such unbounded possibilities. Using the RightMind, we have all manner of Healthcare and other monetisable possibilities. Let me be frank - it is the monetisation that allows our research. Our sponsors, Brant, have an interest in outcomes more than in our research for academic gains."
He gestures to a wall in the room. I recognise the schematic of the fibres linking inside of the brain. It is a wispy yellow creation and reminds me of the kind yellow-dyed wig that Donald Trump might wear.
"We are stepping outside of 'neural lace' now. Elon Musk is investigating it with his company Neuralink and the idea of placing a 'terminal block' inside the head connected to relevant brain areas."
I recognise his description of Neuralink and the way a brain-implanted chip could communicate with the world outside of the skull, using a filigree lace of threads to different areas of the brain. Another example of everything works in PowerPoint.
He continues, " It is far more complex because the brain isn't really the left and right 2-blob structure usually shown. The many folds make even the simplest topography many times more complex to understand. These gyri fold and the related sulci grooves make the part of our brain responsible for higher cognitive processes like memories, language and consciousness."
Now, I knew of this stuff but had not examined it in the level of detail that Türkirchen was explaining.
He continues, "The era of merging our minds with technology has falteringly begun. Already, we can hack the brain to treat diseases such as Parkinson’s or help paralysed people move again. But what if you could install a chip in your head that would not only fix any health issues, but could amp up your brainpower — would you remember every word said during a meeting, finish crossword puzzles faster or drive better thanks to enhanced senses, or pick up a new language before your next trip?"
I think of Science Fiction as he describes these things.
Türkirchen continues. He is admitting it now, "And we know that Super-smart AI isn’t right around the corner, and the goal of creating brain implants for healthy people in just eight to 10 years might not be realistic. But here in Brant, there are scientists hard at work on technology that could boost our mental skills. Some of these gadgets could be worn right on the skin, but the most powerful ones will be nestled in the brain."
He adds, "Researchers can also use the technology to deliver messages to the brain. By sending an electric current into the correct neurons, scientists have been able to restore a person’s sense of touch or hearing, treat tremors caused by Parkinson’s, or send very simple signals from one brain to another."
That's more like it. HCCH interaction. Human-Computer-Computer-Human interaction. With the middle computers providing some form of interpretive moderation.
"Researchers are now exploring whether these technologies could also sharpen certain cognitive skills. One non-invasive technique called transcranial direct current stimulation works by sending electricity through the scalp. Some scientists (and DIY brain hackers) hope it can help improve skills like learning and memory. But it’s not clear yet if this brain-zapping technology is effective."
"Meanwhile, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is investigating a less direct approach: sending electrical pulses into the body. Research indicates that zapping certain peripheral nerves — which connect the brain and spinal cord to the body — may help people learn skills faster. The most promising target for this approach is the vagus nerve, which passes through the neck. It is like tapping into the information superhighway carrying information from the body to the brain,”
Maybe he was proposing a part chemical and part digital approach. The only thing is, it needs a slash to the neck like something out of a bad Mafia movie.
Türkirchen continues, "Sending electricity through the vagus and other nerves may prompt the brain to release chemicals that alter connections between different neurons. This is already a key part of our learning, but by using a machine to rev up this natural process, people might be able to “tune” their brains to recognise important details with less practice."
I knew it. Using chemicals to accelerate or stimulate learning. It's a more random approach than desirable.
Türkirchen continues, "Implanting electrodes inside a human brain is still risky, so it's only done to treat neurological diseases. However, non-invasive technology can’t zero in on the exact neurons it would need to stimulate to boost someone's mental skills. For that, scientists will need to come up with technologies that can be embedded inside our skulls."
Türkirchen show me a couple of diagrams: “At that embedded level you gain access to the actual source code of the brain — our neurons that are firing. That’s the entry point where you gain the highest potential of what you can do.”
The diagram showed neutrons terminated with sensors which, in turn were interfaced to a chip. Good in theory, but very difficult to achieve in practice. I guess that's why he was hinting at the neural lace idea. Fifty sensors into the brain and surely some of them would prove usable. It's still an incredibly reckless hit-and-miss form of experimentation.
Then he brings in the idea of nano-sensors: "Or we might take another approach, like injecting nano-sensors that would be deployed throughout the brain and controlled by magnets or radio signals. Some scientists are looking into out-of-the-box interfaces made from electrode arrays printed in a tattoo."
"That's where the use of micro-robotics can be linked into the solution. Work in Zurich is already showing promise. We have metallic micro-particles which can be heated to around 35C and can then pass through the skin into a body, where they can be guided and reassembled into specific shapes. Remember the old movie 'Incredible Journey' - about a submarine shrunk to go inside a body? This is a real-world example of something similar, except the metal substances have to be guided from outside of the body."
This lab in Brant was either brilliant or insane.
No comments:
Post a Comment