Monkeys print Shakespeare

The neurointerface allowed monkeys to print the text of Hamlet

Sofia Dolotovskaya, N+1

Scientists from the Bio-X Institute at Stanford University have developed a brain-computer interface that allows you to type at a record speed of 12 words per minute to date. The article was published in the journal Proceedings of the IEEE (Nuyujukian et al., A Nonhuman Primate Brain–Computer Typing Interface), the project is briefly described on the Stanford University website (Brain-sensing technology developed by Stanford scientists allows typing at a rate of 12 words per minute).

The neurointerface developed by the authors is based on a multielectrode sensor that is implanted in the brain and directly reads signals from the motor cortex. Normally, these signals are responsible for the movements of the hand controlling the computer mouse. The interface translates these signals into program instructions that control the cursor and allow you to select letters from the keyboard on the screen.

The authors have made changes to the algorithm responsible for translating brain signals into program instructions. The new version of the interface was tested on two rhesus monkeys with implanted sensors, trained to select the letters they see on the computer screen with the cursor. The monkeys were shown excerpts of texts from the New York Times and Shakespeare's Hamlet on the screen, and they had to reprint them by selecting letters with the cursor on the on-screen keyboard. At the same time, one monkey managed to reach a speed of 7.8 words per minute, and the other – 12 words per minute.

In addition to improving the interface, the study also showed that the implant retains its operability for several years. So, some of the monkeys used in this and in previous experiments wore the sensor for four years. During this time, the effectiveness of its work did not decrease at all, and the monkeys did not have any side effects from wearing it.

The interface itself was developed several years ago and has already been tested on paralyzed people. Since then, scientists have constantly made modifications to the interface management program, gradually improving it, but the printing process has so far remained too slow and inaccurate. The currently achieved print speed of 12 words per minute, according to the authors, is sufficient for a "meaningful conversation" – that is, the interface is finally ready to be used directly for paralyzed people.

The authors note that paralyzed people who will use this interface are likely to type a little slower than 12 words per minute: they will not just copy letters like monkeys in an experiment, but think about the choice of words and spelling. In order to further increase the printing speed, the authors plan to further provide the interface with a predictive text input function, which is used, for example, in smartphones.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  14.09.2016