What is neurotechnology and what is it used for?
Neurotechnology refers to a range of techniques and devices that can record, interpret or modify activity in the nervous system for diagnostic, therapeutic or research purposes.
According to the World Health Organization, more than one in three people worldwide live with a neurological disorder. This makes neurological conditions one of the leading causes of disability and loss of health globally.
For decades, the brain has remained one of the most complex organs to study. Today, however, the combination of artificial intelligence, advanced computing, new brain-imaging techniques, nanotechnology and advances in microelectronics allows us to observe and interact with the nervous system with unprecedented precision.
Unlike many drug treatments, which affect the body as a whole, some neurotechnological tools can target specific brain circuits directly, allowing for greater precision.
These advances have fuelled major international efforts to understand how the brain works and develop new treatments. Projects such as the BRAIN Initiative in the United States and the Human Brain Project in Europe share a common goal: to gain a better understanding of the brain so that neurological conditions can be diagnosed and treated more effectively.
How is brain activity recorded?
Brain activity is largely electrical. Neurons communicate with one another through tiny electrical impulses, which can be detected using different technologies. For this reason, neurotechnology is mainly based on three processes:
- Recording neural signals.
- Analysing and interpreting this information.
- Modifying or stimulating brain activity when necessary.
This approach makes it possible to establish two-way communication with the brain: to monitor what is happening within the neurons and, in certain circumstances, to intervene to provide therapeutic benefits.
There are currently both invasive and non-invasive methods for studying the brain.
Non-invasive techniques
These techniques allow brain activity to be recorded without the need for surgery:
- Electroencephalography (EEG): records electrical activity through electrodes placed on the scalp.
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG): detects the magnetic fields generated by neural activity.
- Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): identifies changes in blood oxygen levels associated with brain activity.
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS): uses infrared light to study the brain’s response.
Invasive techniques
In some cases, electrodes are implanted directly into the brain to obtain more detailed information or to treat certain conditions. This approach is used to monitor brain activity before epilepsy surgery and in some advanced brain–computer interfaces.
Which conditions can benefit from neurotechnology?
Neurotechnological tools are already being used, or are being actively researched, for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of a wide range of neurological conditions.
One example is deep brain stimulation (DBS), which involves implanting electrodes in specific areas of the brain to modulate their activity. It is an established treatment for certain cases of Parkinson’s disease, particularly when symptoms are not adequately controlled with medication.
Neurotechnology is also opening up new possibilities for people with visual impairment. Some experimental systems combine cameras, computer processing and brain stimulation to create artificial visual perceptions. Although these technologies are still at an early stage, they could offer new hope for people with certain types of blindness.
Another promising area of research is the application of nanotechnology to the brain. Researchers are developing nanoscale sensors and devices that could improve communication with prosthetic devices, support neural regeneration or enable new, more precise methods of brain stimulation.
Other conditions that could potentially benefit from neurotechnology-based treatments include:
- Stroke.
- Alzheimer’s disease.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Certain forms of paralysis.
Can devices be controlled with your thoughts?
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are systems that translate brain activity into digital commands. This makes it possible to control computers, prostheses, robots and other devices without relying on muscle movement.
This technology could be particularly beneficial for people with severe paralysis or communication difficulties. Some recent studies have successfully decoded brain signals related to speech and converted them into synthesised speech almost in real time.
Non-invasive systems have also been developed that allow people to control robots using brain activity recorded by external sensors.
What does the future hold for neurotechnology?
Recent advances are making it possible, for the first time, to “listen to” and “communicate with” neurons with increasing precision. According to researchers, this could lead to more personalised treatments, targeted interventions aimed at specific brain circuits, and smart devices that can adapt to each patient’s symptoms in real time.
In this context, the European META-BRAIN project is of particular interest. This initiative brings together research centres and international institutions to explore new ways of understanding, recording and modulating brain activity. Some of the research described in this article is being carried out within the framework of the project by the Systems Neuroscience Group at IDIBAPS, led by Dr Maria V. Sánchez-Vives, with the participation of Dr Nathalia Cancino-Fuentes, a researcher in the group. Their work explores how neuronal activity is organised, how complex processes such as thought and consciousness emerge, and how this knowledge can be applied to develop new strategies for restoring impaired brain functions.
However, these advances also raise important questions about mental privacy, personal identity and the ethical limits of technologies capable of reading or modifying brain activity. For this reason, experts emphasise the importance of ongoing ethical debate alongside the development of neurotechnology.
Its future will depend not only on scientific and technological advances, but also on our ability to ensure that these tools are safe, accessible and developed in ways that respect people’s rights.
INFORMATION DOCUMENTED BY:
Dr Maria V. Sánchez-Vives and Dr Nathalia Cancino-Fuentes, Systems Neuroscience Research Group at IDIBAPS.
