Using the human brain to control matter seems to be a "superpower". People's expectations for this superpower can be seen in science fiction novels and science fiction movies. Recently, scientists have turned this superpower into reality through technology.
Recently, the topic "Chinese scientists achieve remote mind control of substances" has been on Weibo hot search. This topic immediately attracted widespread attention as soon as it was released. So far, this topic has been read more than 22 million times. So, what kind of technology is this?
▲Picture丨eLight Volume 2 Issue 24 Cover (Source: Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
It is reported that Southeast University teamed up with South China University of Technology and National University of Singapore teams to jointly build " "Electromagnetic brain-computer metasurface (brain-computer-metasurface, EBCM)", this system can identify the user's brain information, then change it into electrical signals, and finally become electromagnetic communication. Not only that, the system can also achieve non-invasive and unlimited information transmission and communication in the form of brain-wireless communication, pattern coding, beam scanning and multi-functional electromagnetic modulation.
For this technology, the researchers predicted in the paper: "The work presented by combines reprogrammable electromagnetic (EM) wave space and brain computer interface (Brain Computer Interface, BCI), which may further open up Explore the new direction of deep integration of metasurfaces, human brain intelligence and artificial intelligence , so as to build a new generation of bio-intelligent metasurface systems. "
The related paper is titled "Achieve direct wireless connection to the human brain through non-invasive brain-computer metasurface platform. Communication" (Directly wireless communication of human minds via non-invasive brain-computer-metasurface platform), and was published as the cover paper of the current issue on eLight on June 11 [1].
The co-corresponding authors of the paper are Professor Cui Tiejun of the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves of Southeast University, Professor Li Yuanqing of the School of Automation Science and Engineering of South China University of Technology, and Professor Qiu Chengwei of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National University of Singapore. The co-first authors are Dr. Ma Qian of Southeast University and Dr. Gao Wei of South China University of Technology.
▲Picture丨Related papers (Source: eLight)
What the team built is a new way of integrating EM metasurface and BCI. First, the researchers proposed wireless transmission of human brain signals through EBCM in a flexible and non-invasive manner. They then demonstrated wireless text communication between two BCI operators under brain control using a programmable metasurface design.
If under a certain time series of visual stimulation conditions, the P300 potential can be detected in the brain signal force. The team used the P300's BCI to convert the operator's brain information into electroencephalography (electro-encephalography, EEG) signals and further into computer commands, which were fed into the electrical control system of the programmable metasurface. Afterwards, digital information is wirelessly transmitted and received by two programmable metasurfaces, thus achieving unlimited text communication over long distances.
▲Figure丨System architecture of EBCM (Source: eLight)
Researchers told the media: "Using P300-based BCI by skilled BCI operators, the average input time per character is about 5 seconds. By applying some fast spelling Paradigms can improve text entry speed. It is also worth mentioning that P300-based BCI is highly accurate and robust among various non-invasive BCIs."
Through the video above, we can see that the operator makes letter selections by controlling the text graphical user interface in the display. Different buttons correspond to different encoding mode operations of EBCM.
The operator tries to correspond to one command at a time To send, the buttons begin flashing sequentially in random order for approximately 5 rounds, each round containing one flash of each button, with a randomly generated sequence of flashes before each trial. In the video case, the transmission of the five letters "HELLO" is shown. The information is displayed on the recipient's screen.
▲Figure丨System architecture and encoding and decoding process of text communication system (Source: eLight)
The distance between the transmitting and receiving hypersurface is about 1.3m, and its transmitting ultra-surface The surface is driven by a broadband antenna at 0.3m. The receiver is an antenna integrated near the receiving metasurface, connected to a low-noise amplifier and a high-speed detector and a high-speed analog-to-digital converter , which is driven by another field programmable logic gate array Control.
Relevant experiments show that the operator can recognize and convert it into corresponding responses through a series of sequential stimulations only through thoughts, that is, staring at specific visual buttons, without involving muscle movements. EM signal to achieve signal communication.
▲Picture丨eLight Volume 2 Issue 25 Cover (Source: Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
Also on June 11, eLight also posted an article from The paper titled "Remotely Mind-controlled Metasurface via Brainwaves" by the Air Force Engineering University and the National University of Singapore team [2] .
The team demonstrated a simple architecture, by extracting modules from brain waves, in this way achieves the concept of remote control of super surfaces. This research expands ideas for the application of smart metasurfaces. This technology may be used in health monitoring, 5G/6G communications, smart sensors and other fields. Directly wireless communication of human minds via non- invasive brain- computer-metasurface platform. eLight 2, 11 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43593-022-00019-x2. Zhu, R., Wang, J., Qiu, T. et al. Remotely mind -controlled metasurface via brainwaves. eLight 2, 10 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s43593-022-00016-0
