Scientists at the California Institute of Equipment have developed a novel way for using precision ultrasound imaging technology. Parents can use this technology to see, read, and forecast foetal brain activity before their child is born. In summary, scientists can use ultra sonography to trace blood flow in different locations of the brain, and they recognise this as an indication that the brain's nerve areas are active at any given time. This amazing study was published in the journal "Neuron" recently.
After adding primate study data to an algorithm, scientists revealed that precise blood flow patterns in the brain can not only match but also predict the future activities primates will take. With the passage of time, specialists believe there is no reason why it should not function on people.
According to a news release, scientists believe that this predictive neuro imaging technique could usher in a new era of brain-computer interface technology that is more accurate and less harmful than present capabilities. "The first milestone is that ultra sonography can record signals related with body movement in the brain," according to David Maresca, lead author of the study, at a news conference.
Ultrasound can aid in the resolution of a basic problem in neuro imaging and brain-computer interface research. We've previously implanted brain things and electrodes that can record the brain pretty well, but all they take is intrusive and potentially harmful operations.
As a result, this approach can only be used in exceptional cases, such as in people suffering from severe epilepsy. Furthermore, even if we have non-invasive brain imaging technologies such as functional magnetic resonance imaging or EEG arrays, there is a good probability that false data will be generated; alternatively, a large number of machines the size of a room will be required.
The ultrasound technology presented in this paper, on the other hand, accomplishes tasks that neither of the prior two technologies could. Scientists can use it to shrink brain imaging equipment to 100 nanometers in size, which is around 10 neurons or the diameter of a hair. That's all there is to it; there's no need for brain surgery.
"Functional ultrasound imaging can capture this data with ten times the sensitivity and resolution of functional magnetic resonance imaging," The author said at the news conference.