From: M.E.Morris@bnr.co.uk (Michele Morris)
Subject: Re: SCI: Direct Neural-Electronic Interfacing
Date: 11 Dec 1992 11:34:34 GMT
Organization: BNR Europe Limited, Harlow, GB


In article <=8j1Hr*h9b@atlantis.psu.edu> vincent@wilbur.psu.edu (James Vincent) writes:
>
>A little more food for thought on the subject: there exists today electrodes
>that can measure single neurons firing. Ultra small electrodes are placed
>directly over the synapse and detect firing. Given enough of these and some
>sort of neural net to figure out what all the firings meant ......

I hate to tell you this, but if you're thinking of the very fine
electrodes used, for example on cat brains, to investigate the
functional mapping of the visual cortex, then you're asking to addle
your brains. Not only do these electrodes, fine though they are,
destroy neurons on the way in, I believe that prolonged use also kills
the neurons whose action potentials they are measuring. Rather than
expanding your sensory horizons you'd be destroying your brain. I
think I'll wait for a non-invasive, or at least less-destructive
method.  Something more akin to a cochlear implant, but with much,
much, higher resolution.

Cheers M'dears ... Michele

*************************************************************************
email: M.E.Morris@bnr.co.uk    phone: +44 279 429531   fax: +44 279 441551
BNR Europe Limited, London Road, Harlow, Essex, CM17 9NA, England.

        I think it's kind of interesting the way things get to be.
        The way the people work with their machines.
**************************************************************************