BCI Capabilities Relevant to WBES @ WBE Workshop 2023

This talk summary discusses the capabilities of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) in the context of whole brain emulation (WBE). The speaker introduces three versions of WBE: weak, moderate, and strong, with the strong version encompassing whole brain intelligence and consciousness. BCIs are crucial in achieving whole brain functional emulation (WBF), as they enable the gathering of information from multiple channels, although this is still far from the number of neurons in the brain. The speaker then explores the bottom-up and top-down approaches to WBE, with bottom-up focusing on scaling up from the neuron or sub-neuron level and top-down using techniques like functional MRI to observe the whole brain. Both approaches have their challenges, such as scalability and achieving single neuron resolution. The speaker also mentions the progress BCIs have made in neuroprosthetics but highlights the need for improved electrode technology to cover a significant portion of the human cortex. The development of minimally invasive long-lasting brain implants and the use of ultrasound for brain imaging are also discussed. Finally, the speaker acknowledges the technological challenges involved in developing ultrasound-enabled brain imaging.