Hi r/Futurology, cheers for having us!

A team of UNSW researchers led by Professor François Ladouceur have demonstrated that sensors built using liquid crystal and integrated optics technologies can measure neural activity using light – rather than electricity – which could lead to a complete reimagining of medical technologies like nerve-operated prosthetics and brain-machine interfaces.

The team's research has been published in the Journal of Neural Engineering: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-2552/ac8ed6

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Finally I knew they would start connecting the nerves with the right wiring bcus it's still sending some form of electricity signals

The following submission statement was provided by /u/unswsydney:

Hi r/Futurology, cheers for having us!

A team of UNSW researchers led by Professor François Ladouceur have demonstrated that sensors built using liquid crystal and integrated optics technologies can measure neural activity using light – rather than electricity – which could lead to a complete reimagining of medical technologies like nerve-operated prosthetics and brain-machine interfaces.

The team's research has been published in the Journal of Neural Engineering: https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1741-2552/ac8ed6

Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/yebkt0/engineers_at_unsw_have_found_a_way_to_convert/itx3cpz/

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> Now that the researchers have shown that the optrode method works in vivo, they will shortly publish research that shows the optrode technology is bidirectional – that it can not only read neural signals, but can write them too.

Woah, that is a huge deal. That's the advantage of a neural implant (other than permanent connections); the ability to write feedback to the brain just like muscles do. That allows controlling prosthetics without looking at them and much faster learning in theory.

Now they just need to vice versa it and we’re good

Good to see great minds there's still some hope

Everyday we come one step close to a cyberpunk world, soon factories would chop up your hands to replace them with working prosthetics

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I'm thinking about getting metal legs. It's a risky operation, but I think it's worth it.

I want to be like a cross between V in Cyberpunk 2077, my Spartan in Halo Infinite, and Adam Jenson someday

With robo legs, even with my fucked up pelvis and collapsed neck & spine they could finally get my legs to the SAME length!

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This is absolutely fascinating. I don't have time to read your article just yet - But I have some questions, and I hope they aren't immediately addressed in the paper, so I'm not wasting everyone's time.

How do you intend to do the reverse operation - writing information to the nerves?

My background is in neuroscience, not biomedical engineering. I'm more familiar with optogenetic schemes, but those rely on modified light sensitive receptor expression in the target neuron. Is your scheme able to stimulate the neuron without changing protein expression within the cell?

Additionally, optogenetic approaches need a fairly intense light source, and that runs the risk of causing damage to the tissue in research settings. Is that a concern for your system?

Thanks again. This is the coolest thing I've read in a while.

If I were to indulge my cyborg fantasy would definitely be something out of Ghost In The Shell.

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Hi,u/Corsair4! Here's a response from Professor François Ladouceur!

​

>Fascinating indeed and yes, we are also addressing the reverse operation and will be publishing this very soon. It is based on the simple idea of micro-voltaic cells or if you prefer, we have shrunk down solar panels to micron-square size and managed to generate enough voltage to stimulate nerves. Hence we can both “read” and “write” using light. No optogenetics needed.

Call me a dreamer, but I envision a future where we are all isolated brains with our nerves connected to a computer and supported by artificial vascular systems.

I've read a paper recently summarizing all of the BCI methods, and nerve interception seemed the most promising to me, instead of attempting to interact directly with the brain, as Neuralink and its competitors seem to be doing.

The technology will surely begin threading the corporate landscape by restoring function to people with disabilities, but we could eventually connect AI generators to nerve endings and emulate all 5 senses in an immersive virtual reality, fully controlled by ourselves.

Cursed, Australians always beating the world to the technology punch!!!

I feel humiliated! I feel degraded!

Best I've felt in days!

Ghost in the shell, post humanism, etc.

Metaverse, cybernetics, matrix, sentient AI. All possible, but there's rarely any discussion on that around here except Facebook/Elon/capitalism bad.

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