• Question: Do you think it is possible for our brains to be run by a computer?

    Asked by Sadie Connolly to Natalie on 15 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Natalie Doig

      Natalie Doig answered on 15 Mar 2017:

      Interesting question, and maybe in the future is my answer.
      At the moment our brains run much better, and faster, than any supercomputer so until computers are improved then no. However, what people are researching now is using the brain to control computers, which is sort of the other way around. For example using information from the brain to control prosthetic limbs, or putting implants into the brain so that people can see! It is very sci-fi and interesting – have a look here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain%E2%80%93computer_interface
      And in Parkinson’s disease, which affects the area of the brain that I study, you can implant electrodes into the brain which give pulses of electricity that changes the way the cells fire which helps to relieve the symptoms of the disease, read more here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_brain_stimulation
      I think that interactions between computers and our brains are going to increase massively during your lifetime!

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