𝙉𝙀𝙐𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙃𝙉𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙂𝙔

 𝙉𝙀𝙐𝙍𝙊𝙏𝙀𝘾𝙃𝙉𝙊𝙇𝙊𝙂𝙔. 

Neurotechnology is defined as the assembly of methods and instruments that enable a direct connection of technical components with the nervous system. These technical components are electrodes, computers, or intelligent prostheses.

They are meant to either record signals from the brain and “translate” them into technical control commands, or to manipulate brain activity by applying electrical or optical stimuli.
Neurotechnology is a fascinating and, at the same time, controversial field as one of its goals is to directly “wire up” human brains to machines. 
Risk benefit assessment has been well established in all medical disciplines to treat patients best possible while minimizing jeopardizing their lives by the interventions.
Fundamental research is conducted to explore functions of the brain, decipher the neural code and get a better understanding of diseases and disorders. 

The neurotechnology industry has grown to a 9 billion market valuation with a healthy 15% growth rate  predicted in the coming decade. 

Interest in deciphering the fundamental mechanisms and processes of the human mind represents a central driving force in modern neuroscience research. 
Recent research establishes the foundations for a broad range of creating neurotechnologies that enable unique modes of operation in this context. 
Activities in support of this goal rely on advanced methodologies and engineering systems that are capable of interrogating and stimulating neural pathways, from single cells in small networks to interconnections that span the entire brain. 
𝙉𝙚𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙣𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙀𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙨.
Neurotechnological electrodes can be simply placed on the surface of the head in the form of electrode caps that pick up electrical fields generated by the active brain. This method of measurement is termed “non-invasive” as the electrodes do not penetrate the body. It is used, for instance, in patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), who are almost completely paralyzed during the advanced stages of the disease. These patients are sometimes only able to communicate using their eyelids or, alternatively, by voluntary changes of their electrical brain activity. In fact, these patients are still capable of controlling certain aspects of their measurable brain activity and, relying on suitable technical devices for decoding, can thus respond to yes/no questions. After some practice, they can operate a computerized “typewriter” and compose sentences. Their faculty of speech finds its way from the head directly to the computer.

𝘾𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝.
Current research now seeks to optimize the long-term stability and biocompatibility of such brain implants to make them viable for everyday practical use beyond clinical trials. In order to further improve accuracy and reliability of such prostheses for patients, enhancements from modern robotics are increasingly considered by the engineers, and tools from machine learning are expected to make neuroprostheses adaptive and “intelligent.”

The fascinating aspect of neurotechnology is that, in a certain sense, human beings and machines are “fused” together to a degree unheard of before. We could not possibly provide a definition of “human being” without a comprehensive notion of technology—humans have always been “artificial” beings as they have always relied on technology, emphasized by the term “homo faber.” Even though our traditional “replacement prosthetics” and assorted bodily enhancements provide us with a rich repository of experiences with forms of self-mechanization, the direct implantation of silicon into the brain constitutes an entirely new form of mechanization' of the self. This not only concerns the alterations of personality discussed earlier—the new union of man and machine is bound to confront us with entirely new challenges as well. Basic research is performed on robotic arms that can “autonomously” interpret and execute the patient's motor intentions. To this end, the research toward decoding people's intentions from brain activity will be intensified. The goal is that a neuroprosthesis “knows” which of the elevator buttons the patient in the wheelchair wants to press. As we can retrieve ever more detailed and voluminous information about what is going on “inside” a patient, the issues of data integrity, data security, and privacy are gaining very high relevance for neurotechnology as well.