Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)
Motor behavior is controlled by the brain and includes facial movements such as twitching and locomotive movements. Motor behavior is present in individuals throughout their lives. The brain percepts the movement to be made, after it is made, feedback is sent back to the brain, and it fashions the necessary movement to follow; and therefore, each action is planned and guided following the individual’s interaction with their immediate environment (Adolph & Franchak, 2017). Subsequently, under specific circumstances such as neurological disorders and stroke, patients and individuals have limited motor control, and their movement is limited. In most cases, therapeutic approaches and medication are not effective and cannot be used for treatment. Consequently, technologies such as neuro-prostheses are developed to aid in their interactions with their immediate environment; a good example is a brain-computer interface (BCI) (Vidaurre, Klauer, Schauer, Ramos-Murguialday & Müller, 2016). Accordingly, there are advantages, limitations, and ethical implications associated with the use of BCI systems.
BCI is an assistive technology that interferes with brain signals and accessing the brain information transmitted through the sensory-motor. Additionally, the interference translates the brain information into control commands for the gadget in use. Since the BCI system functions to restore interactions between individuals and their immediate environment, there are two groups. Active BCI systems are controlled by endogenous functions such as motor imagery, and reactive BCI systems controlled by external factors such as the visual image (Alonso-Valerdi, Salido-Ruiz & Ramirez-Mendoza, 2015). Therefore, BCI systems work as a switch of the brain to control and influence actions in people with motor deficits.
There are several advantages associated with BCI systems. The first advantage is assisting people and patients with severe motor deficits, such as paralyzed individuals. Medication and therapeutic approaches cannot assist individuals with severe motor deficits; therefore, BCI systems assist these individuals in interacting with their immediate environment (Alonso-Valerdi, Salido-Ruiz & Ramirez-Mendoza, 2015). The second advantage is their use in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders. This diagnosis advantage allows physicians to differentiate between “coma, vegetative state (VS), minimally conscious state (MCS) and LIS” in patients (Alonso-Valerdi et al., 2015). Also, BCI systems have been found effective in treating neurological disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children within two months of their application. Another advantage entails its ability to provide substitutions for motor deficits and its promising intervention in restoring brain control of motor movement in limbs.
There are several limitations associated with BCI systems. The first disadvantage is that BCI systems might be inefficient for some users and, therefore, limit their application. The second disadvantage is the inability of some individuals to control the system despite their training (Vidaurre, Klauer, Schauer, Ramos-Murguialday & Müller, 2016). Another limitation involves the inability to be used independently over a long period. Another disadvantage involves the individual identity crisis BCI arises in patients under its treatment by evoking feelings of distress (Chavarriaga, Fried-Oken, Kleih, Lotte & Scherer, 2016).
BCI systems also pose ethical implications. These ethical implications involve the interference with the patient’s sense of self. Despite BCI systems evoking feelings of control in other patients, they also evoke severe feelings of distress and feelings of lack of control and influence self-identity (Gilbert, Cook, O’Brien & Illes, 2017).
Accordingly, BCI systems show a lot of promise and pose more benefits than drawbacks. The accomplishments associated with BCI systems have assisted some individuals, and the drawbacks will be remedied with advancements in research and technology. Therefore, the authors describe the efficiency of BCI systems and their clinical applications, which have given great results and promise to achieve tasks such as restoration of motor abilities. Therefore, I believe BCI systems are advantageous in treating motor behavior deficits, and conducting further research will reduce the drawbacks and improve the system. Subsequently, it is an efficient treatment that should continue being implemented.
In conclusion, BCI systems have more advantages in helping individuals, and therefore, considering the advantages, the treatment should be employed clinically. Drawbacks can be eliminated with the perfection of the system, and this elimination will promote BCI system application. Therefore, the BCI system is a brain technology that improves and treats behavioral deficits.
References
Adolph, K., & Franchak, J. (2017). The development of motor behavior. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Cogn Sci. 2017 Jan; 8(1-2). doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1002%2Fwcs.1430
Alonso-Valerdi, L., Salido-Ruiz, R., & Ramirez-Mendoza, R. (2015). Motor imagery based brain–computer interfaces: An emerging technology to rehabilitate motor deficits. Retrieved 15 May 2021, from
Chavarriaga, R., Fried-Oken, M., Kleih, S., Lotte, F., & Scherer, R. (2016). Heading for new shores! Overcoming pitfalls in BCI design. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 4(1-2), 60-73. doi: 10.1080/2326263x.2016.1263916
Gilbert, F., Cook, M., O’Brien, T., & Illes, J. (2017). Embodiment and Estrangement: Results from a First-in-Human “Intelligent BCI” Trial. Science And Engineering Ethics, 25(1), 83-96. doi: 10.1007/s11948-017-0001-5
Vidaurre, C., Klauer, C., Schauer, T., Ramos-Murguialday, A., & Müller, K. (2016). EEG-based BCI for the linear control of an upper-limb neuroprosthesis. Medical Engineering & Physics, 38(11), 1195-1204. doi: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2016.06.010
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Question
Benchmark – Emerging Issues in Brain Technology
Research an emerging brain technology that you think may be useful in the future or is currently being used in the behavioral health field. Find at least two articles.
Write a 500-750-word paper. Include the following in your paper:
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI)
Discussion of the ethical implications, including the benefits and drawbacks to this technology
Discussion of the author’s conclusions and opinions
Your own opinions about the future of this technology and whether you think it is primarily a positive or negative development
A minimum of two scholarly sources
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency:
BS Behavioral Health Science
Examine
Benchmark – Emerging Issues in Brain Technology
Research an emerging brain technology that you think may be useful in the future or is currently being used in the behavioral health field. Find at least two articles.
APA 6
Write a 500-750-word paper. Include the following in your paper:
Discussion of the ethical implications, including benefits and drawbacks to this technology
Discussion of the author’s conclusions and opinions
Your own opinions about the future of this technology, and whether you think it is primarily a positive or negative development
A minimum of two scholarly sources
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competency:
