How Far Away Is Memory Implantation?

 Neurosciene  

Recently the Science Channel program Futurescape looked at the possibilities of uploading memories directly to the brain, as may be possible with the work of Theodore Berger.

One day in the near future, you'll plug a cable into your brain and upload information.  In a video from the Science Channel, Michio Kaku says that such technology does not yet exist, but is physically possible.

Memory formation in the brain starts in the prefrontal cortex, but then transfers to the hypocampus, where the memories are stored for the long term.

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Theodore Berger describes in the video how neural-interface technology, like the ones he is developing could dramatically augment human ability.

"We found that we can not only restore long-term memories, we can enhance the animals ability to remember," states Berger.  "You can think about using devices like this to greatly enhance human memory and to shorten the cycle for learning, in terms of downloading huge quantities of memory at a single time."

Image Source: Theodore Berger

Berger and his team have used silicon-based, multi-site electrode arrays and tissue culture methods for implantation of hardware models into the brain to replace damaged or dysfunctional nerve tissue.  A presentation of the research is available here.

The chip's function is to communicate within the brain is a dramatic first step, he believes, toward an implantable machine that fluently speaks the language of the brain-a machine that could restore memories in people with brain damage or help them make new ones.

SOURCE  Science Channel

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