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Since he has a hand, how do they discern between the electrical signals picked up from the motor neurons, and the electrical signals created by the muscles (whi
by icoder 9y ago
Since he has a hand, how do they discern between the electrical signals picked up from the motor neurons, and the electrical signals created by the muscles (which are a lot stronger)?
To compare: some years ago I saw a talk from neuroscience researcher about a locked in patients. Only with great effort they were able to discern a single on/off signal from the brain, and only after a lot of practice. I asked why commercial products seemed much further than that, and he explained that these basically pickup subtle nearby (ie from the eye) muscles movements (that locked in patients no longer have), and users only 'believe' they are controlling the system directly with their brain.
- hacker_9 9y agoMotor neurons move the muscles, so does it matter which signal they pick up? With some machine learning in there, it should be able to discern between actual actions and random twitches. Edit: for down voters who didn't read the article, they already are using machine learning: "Picking up the signals is only the first step. Perhaps the most difficult part is then transforming them into signals that the device understands. This requires a combination of coding, machine learning, and neuroscience."
- wlesieutre 9y agoBecause one very important application for brain/computer interfaces is prosthetics. If muscles in the hand are interpreting the signals from motor neurons, and the computer reacts to muscle movements, then it's not useful for that. The amputees have motor neurons, but they don't have hands so you need to get the nerve signals more directly. I don't know anything more than GP with regard to this project, but that's the question they're asking.
- caycep 9y agoi suspect they do EMG. Much MUCH easier to pick up muscle, than motor neuron signal.