Page - 69 - in Cyborg Mind - What Brain–Computer and Mind–Cyberspace Interfaces Mean for Cyberneuroethics

Neuronal Interface Systems • 69 of these very small microscopic wires to go through the estimated 25 km of capillaries that exists in a standard human brain. Neuron-Silicon Transistors Another approach to neuronal interface systems actually inserts an electrode into the neurone. In such a highly miniaturised and integrated device, a direct interface between neurons and silicon microelectronic systems would be developed,87 enabling an application that could read out the electrical activity of a neuron (or even activate it in some way).88 It would then enable researchers to gather more information about how individual neurons work, while creating a simple memory device. However, at present, extending this system outside the laboratory would be extremely challenging.89 Miniature Synthetic Mesh (Neural Lace) In 2015, scientists in China and the United States indicated that they had injected rolled-up miniature synthetic macroporous mesh (neural lace) elec- tronics using a water-based solution in a 0.1 mm-diameter syringe into the brains of mice. This mesh, it was suggested, could then unfurl inside the mouse brain up to 30 times its size and become embedded with the living neurons. Such a technology could enable new human neuronal interfaces to be developed, with the activities of neurons being continually monitored and manipulated through the use of microscopic sensors wired into the mesh.90 Interestingly, the concept of neural lace being implanted into the brains of individuals, such as young people, which then grows with them was first suggested by the Scottish author Iain M. Banks (1954–2013) in his series of science-fiction books called The Culture, which depicts an interstellar utopian society. In these books, the neural lace enables individuals to communicate wirelessly, including with databases, and to store their full sentience after death so that they can be re-activated. In addition, it enables all the thoughts of a person to be read, though in The Culture, this usually only takes place with his or her consent.91 Application of Feedback Neuronal Interfaces To help pick through the complex manner in which neuronal interface sys- tems may be used, this section will begin by considering what is already possible with respect to feedback interfaces, but will then examine future possibilities including what has crept into science-fiction films or books. This open access edition has been made available under a CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license thanks to the support of Knowledge Unlatched. Not for resale.