Introduction to BrainGate Technology
                     BRAINGATE 
TECHNOLOG
Y
INTRODUCTION
BrainGate is a technology that 
is developed to define the 
connection between the human 
brain and the computer. 
It is a brain implant system 
that helps people who have 
lost control of their limbs or 
their functions in accidents or 
due to disease. It is a 
neurotransmitter prosthetic 
device. 
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
NEED OF 
BRAINGATE
BrainGate was developed to 
help people with paralysis or 
accidents or suffering from 
diseases that have lost control 
of movement.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
EMBEDDED 
TECHNOLOGY
This technology is embedded in 
the scalp of a person’s head 
and converts his thoughts into 
movements of the cursor on 
the computer screen.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
COMPARISION 
WITH HUMAN 
BRAIN
This technology works because 
of the way in which our brains 
function. 
Our brains are filled with 
neurons that are connected to 
each other using dendrites and 
axons. Our neurons are at work 
whenever we are thinking, 
moving, feeling, or 
remembering something.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
REQUIREMENTS
The Chip: the chip is placed in 
the cortex of the brain. The cortex 
is responsible for all movements 
of the body. It is a square chip of 
size 4mm. It is studded with about 
100 microelectrodes.
The Connector: whenever a 
person is thinking about 
movement, the neurons in the 
cortex transmit a signal through 
the connector to the plug 
attached to the skull.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
REQUIREMENTS 
CONT.
The Converter: the signal is 
passed through an amplifier 
that converts it into optical 
data that reaches a computer.
The Computer: the braingate 
interface associates the signal 
patterns to up, down, left, and 
right movements, and these 
are connected to a cursor.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
WORKING
A person thinks of moving the 
cursor. The electrodes in the chip 
detect this activity. 
The impulses are transferred from 
the chip to the pedestal via wires. 
The pedestal cancels the noise and 
sends it to the converter for 
amplification. 
The signal is sent to a computer 
after being captured by an 
acquisition system. The computer 
translates signals and makes the 
cursor move. 
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
TYPES OF BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE 
(BCI) 
ELECTROCORTICO
GRAPHY (ECOG)
ECog is responsible for 
measuring the electrical 
activity of the brain. It is an 
invasive method of sensing 
signals. 
This is placed in the cortex. 
This involves surgery and may 
cause scar tissues in the brain. 
The scar tissues can block 
signals.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
ELECTROENCEPH
ALOGRAPHY (EEG)
EEG is a non-invasive method 
of sensing the signals. This 
involves attaching electrodes 
to the scalp. This method is 
lesser effective as the skull 
blocks the most signals and 
distorts what gets through.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
APPLICATIONS
• It is used in the classification of 
the EEG signals.
• It is applied to multimedia 
connections.
• It is used in the evaluation of 
the algorithms that detect 
spike.
• It is applied in controlling a 
mobile robot by human EEG.
• It is used for asynchronous 
control as a brain-controlled 
switch.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org