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{{Short description|Brain implant}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:BrainGate2-Drinking.jpg|thumb|300px|right| BrainGate2 participant uses interface to drink coffee from a bottle]] -->'''BrainGate''' is a [[brain implant]] system, currently under development and in clinical trials, designed to help those who have lost control of their [[Limb (anatomy)|limbs]], or other bodily functions, such as patients with [[amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]] (ALS) or [[spinal cord injury]]. The Braingate technology and related Cyberkinetic’s assets are now owned by privately held Braingate, Co.<ref name="BrainGate gets a new lease on life">{{cite web |last=Kirsner |first=Scott |date=12 August 2009 |title=CyberKinetics' Brain-to-Computer Interface Gets a Second Chance |url=https://archive.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2009/08/cyberkinetics_braintocomputer.html |work=[[Boston.com]] |access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> The sensor, which is implanted into the [[brain]], monitors brain activity in the patient and converts the intention of the user into computer commands.

==Technology==

[[Image:BrainGate.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|Dummy unit illustrating the design of a BrainGate interface]]
 
In its current form, BrainGate consists of a sensor implanted in the brain and an external decoder device, which connects to some kind of [[prosthetic]] or other external object.  The sensor is in the form of a [[microelectrode array]], formerly known as the Utah Array,  which consists of 100 hair-thin [[electrodes]] that sense the electromagnetic signature of [[neurons]] firing in specific areas of the brain, for example, the area that controls arm movement. The sensor translates that activity into electrically charged signals, which are then sent to an external device and decoded in software.  The decoder connects to and can use the brain signals to control an external device, such as a robotic arm, a computer cursor, or even a wheelchair. In essence, BrainGate allows a person to manipulate objects in the world using only the mind.
 
In addition to real-time analysis of neuron patterns to relay movement, the BrainGate array is also capable of recording electrical data for later analysis. A potential use of this feature would be for a [[neurologist]] to study seizure patterns in a patient with [[epilepsy]].

== History ==
BrainGate was originally developed by researchers in the Department of Neuroscience at [[Brown University]] in conjunction with [[Biotechnology|bio-tech]] company [[Cyberkinetics|Cyberkinetics, Inc.]]  Cyberkinetics later spun off the device manufacturing to Blackrock Microsystems, who now manufactures the sensors and the data acquisition hardware.<ref name="Blackrock Microsystems">{{cite web |title=Neuroscience Research Systems Blackrock Microsystems |url=https://www.blackrockmicro.com/ |access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref>  The BrainGate Company purchased the intellectual property and related technology from Cyberkinetics and continues to own the intellectual property related to BrainGate.<ref name="BrainGate gets a new lease on life"/><ref name="Blackrock Microsystems"/>

=== Research and experimental results ===
The first reported experiments involving the implantation of the microelectrode array in one human subject were carried out in 2002 by [[Kevin Warwick]], [[Mark Gasson]] and [[Peter Kyberd]].<ref>Warwick, K, Gasson, M, Hutt, B, Goodhew, I, Kyberd, P, Andrews, B, Teddy, P and Shad, A: "The Application of Implant Technology for Cybernetic Systems", ''Archives of Neurology'', 60(10), pp1369-1373, 2003 {{doi|10.1001/archneur.60.10.1369}}</ref> The procedure, which was performed at the [[Radcliffe Infirmary]], involved the implantation of the array in the peripheral nerves of the subject in order to successfully bring about both motor and sensory functionality, i.e. bi-directional signalling.<ref>[[Marianne Legato|Legato, M]] Editor: ”Principles of Gender-Specific Medicine”, Academic Press, 2017</ref>
    
The subsequent full clinical trial of BrainGate was led by researchers at [[Massachusetts General Hospital]], Brown University, and the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs]] and ran from 2004 to 2006, involving the study of four patients with [[tetraplegia]].  The results, published in a 2006 article in the journal ''[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]'', showed that a human with tetraplegia was able to control a cursor on a computer screen just by thinking, enabling him to open emails, and to operate devices such as a television.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Hochberg LR, Serruya MD, Friehs GM, Mukand JA, Saleh M, Caplan AH, Branner A, Chen D, Penn RD, Donoghue JP|title=Neuronal ensemble control of prosthetic devices by a human with tetraplegia|journal=Nature|volume=442|issue=7099|pages=164–171|date=July 2006|doi=10.1038/nature04970|pmid=16838014 |bibcode=2006Natur.442..164H |s2cid=4347367}}</ref> One participant, [[Matt Nagle]], had a spinal cord injury, while another had advanced [[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis|ALS]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/brain.html |title=Mind Control |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=1 March 2005}}</ref>
 
In July 2009, a second clinical trial, dubbed "BrainGate2", was initiated by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brown University, and the Providence VA.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.braingate2.org|title=BrainGate - Turning thought into Action|date=2015-12-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00912041|title=BrainGate2: Feasibility Study of an Intracortical Neural Interface System for Persons With Tetraplegia (BrainGate2)}}</ref> In November 2011, researchers from the [[Stanford University]] Neural Prosthetics Translational Laboratory joined the trial as a second site.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2011/november/braingate.html |publisher=Stanford School of Medicine |title=Stanford joins BrainGate team developing brain-computer interface to aid people with paralysis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209165503/http://med.stanford.edu/ism/2011/november/braingate.html|author=Tanya Lewis |archivedate=9 December 2011}}</ref> This trial is [[#Current clinical trials|ongoing]].
 
In May 2012, BrainGate researchers published a study in ''Nature'' demonstrating that two people paralyzed by [[Brainstem stroke syndrome|brainstem stroke]] several years earlier were able to control robotic arms for reaching and grasping.<ref>{{cite journal|vauthors=Hochberg LR, Bacher D, Jarosiewicz B, Masse NY, Simeral JD, Vogel J, Haddadin S, Liu J, Cash SS, van der Smagt P, Donoghue JP|title=Reach and grasp by people with tetraplegia using a neurally controlled robotic arm|journal=Nature|volume=485|issue=7398|pages=372–375|date=May 2012|doi=10.1038/nature11076|pmid=22596161|pmc=3640850|bibcode=2012Natur.485..372H }}</ref> One participant, Cathy Hutchinson, was able to use the arm to drink coffee from a bottle,<ref>{{cite web |date=16 May 2012 |title=Paralysed woman moves robot with her mind - by Nature Video |language=English |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogBX18maUiM  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/ogBX18maUiM |archive-date=2021-12-22 |url-status=live|access-date=5 April 2021 |location=[[YouTube]] |publisher=Nature video}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the first time she was able to drink unaided in 15 years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2012/05/braingate2 |title=People with paralysis control robotic arms using brain-computer interface|publisher=Brown University|date=May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|url=https://www.nature.com/news/mind-controlled-robot-arms-show-promise-1.10652|title=Mind-controlled robot arms show promise|journal=Nature|date= May 16, 2012|doi=10.1038/nature.2012.10652|last1=Abbott|first1=Alison|s2cid=61793032|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="brown.edu">{{cite web|url=https://news.brown.edu/articles/2012/05/braingate2 |title=People with paralysis control robotic arms using brain-computer interface |publisher=Brown University|date=16 May 2012}}</ref> This took place on site at The Boston Home in [[Dorchester, Massachusetts]], a specialized residence where Ms. Hutchinson resided.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebostonhome.org/2012/05/16/the-boston-home-connection-to-a-technology-breakthrough/|title=The Boston Home Connection to a technology breakthrough|date=16 May 2012|access-date=30 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115002503/http://www.thebostonhome.org/2012/05/16/the-boston-home-connection-to-a-technology-breakthrough/|archive-date=15 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The study included researchers at Brown University, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the German Aerospace Center.<ref name="brown.edu"/>

=== Current clinical trials ===
Clinical trials began in 2009 under the name "BrainGate2 Neural Interface System".<ref>{{cite web |title=Clinical Trials |url=https://www.braingate.org/clinical-trials/ |access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="web_clinicaltrials">{{cite web |title=BrainGate2: Feasibility Study of an Intracortical Neural Interface System for Persons With Tetraplegia (BrainGate2) |url=https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00912041 |work=[[ClinicalTrials.gov]] |access-date=5 April 2021}}</ref> {{asof|October 2014}}, Stanford University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) and Providence VA Medical Center were actively recruiting participants for the ongoing BrainGate2 clinical trial.<ref name="web_clinicaltrials" />

In April 2021, BrainGate became the first technology to transmit wireless commands from a human brain to a computer. The clinical study used two participants with spinal cord injuries. The study used a transmitter connected to the subject's brain motor cortex to transmit the signals. The accuracy and speed of typing and movement was reported to be identical to that of wired solutions.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cuthbertson |first=Anthony |date=3 April 2021 |title=Scientists connect human brain to computer wirelessly for first time ever |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/brain-computer-interface-braingate-b1825971.html |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=5 April 2021 }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Brain–computer interface]] – Describes human trials with BrainGate
* [[Kernel (neurotechnology company)|Kernel]] (neurotech company)
* [[Neuralink]]
* [[Neurorobotics]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://www.braingate.org BrainGate Company]
*[http://www.braingate2.org/ BrainGate research]
*[https://nptl.stanford.edu/ Stanford University Neural Prosthetics Translational Laboratory]
*[https://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-57436475-76/paralyzed-woman-moves-robotic-arm-using-thought-alone/ Paralyzed woman moves robotic arm using thought alone, CNET, May 2012]
*[https://singularityhub.com/2009/05/20/braingate-frees-trapped-minds/ Braingate Overview]
*[https://www.gizmag.com/go/3503/1/ Gizmag Article]
*[https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/13.03/brain.html Wired Article]
*[http://www.virtualworldlets.net/Archive/IndividualNews.php?News=1726 VWN News article]

{{BCI}}

[[Category:Brain–computer interface]]