David Ollech: Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) Explained

David Ollech is a serial entrepreneur with interests in a range of different industries. This article will look at Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and their potential applications in a diverse array of industries, from drones and smartphones to robotic limbs and wheelchairs.

BCIs create a direct communication pathway between electrical activity in the brain and an external output. BCI sensors capture electrophysiological messages transmitted by neurons, relaying information to an external source, be it a robotic limb or computer, enabling an individual to effectively turn their thoughts into actions. These brain chips can be implemented in various ways, including via over-the-scalp wearable devices, surgical insertion under the scalp or even implantation within brain tissue. Essentially, the closer the chip’s proximity to the brain’s neural network, the higher the definition of signal it can interpret.

Neuralink is probably the most well-known example of a BCI in action, with the technology having been surgically implanted into a quadriplegic person’s brain back in 2024, enabling him to control his computer. Scientists predict that BCI technology could pave the way for patients with muscle atrophy, paralysis and other conditions to regain motor function. Experts also anticipate that BCIs could be incorporated in rehabilitation services to accelerate recovery from injuries.

Ramses Alcaide serves as CEO of the neurotech start-up Neurable, a company that specialises in developing non-invasive BCIs in the form of headphones. He suggests that, in the future, BCI-enhanced devices could become an everyday item for the average person, pointing out that if they were made accessible and seamless enough they could be integrated into people’s daily lives, just as they use smartphones and laptops. In an interview with Built In, Alcaide conceded that to become a truly ubiquitous tool, BCIs need to be comfortable, reliable  and intuitive enough for people to use them without consciously thinking about it.

BCIs are modelled after the electrophysiology of the brain’s neural network. When a person thinks or makes a decision, this triggers electrical chemical signals. Located within the nervous system, specifically in the gaps between neurons, the phenomenon occurs as synapses communicate back and forth. BCIs operate through the introduction of electrodes near these conversations, with the sensors detecting voltages and measuring the intensity and frequency of each ‘spike’ as synapses fire or potentially fire.

Craig Mermel serves as president and chief product officer of Precision Neuroscience, a start-up venture that is developing a semi-invasive, reversible BCI. He explains that the technology is like a microphone, but in this case it listens to electrical activity rather than sound, picking up the electrical chatter of neurons communicating with each other. This information is fed through local computer software and translated in a process known as ‘neural decoding’. Leveraging machine learning algorithms and other AI intelligence, agents take over, converting data sets gleaned from brain activity into a programmable understanding of the brain’s intention.

BCIs are an emerging neurotechnology that pose significant scope to improve the quality of life of people with neuromuscular disorders resulting from spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke. Leveraging advancements in neuroscience, machine learning and robotics, BCI research has demonstrated vast potential in assistive, rehabilitation and prosthetic technology to assist, augment, restore or replace lost motor functionality of the brain.

By suppling a neural feedback loop that effectively rewires the brain, BCIs are capable of restoring mobility, autonomy and movement for disabled and paralysed patients, enhancing their quality of life. In chronic cases, robotic limbs and other devices may be integrated. In addition to healthcare, BCIs show a plethora of potential uses in a diverse range of applications, from wireless headsets and spellers to smart home device interfaces and drones.