Hacking Heksors: Revolutionising Behaviour
by The Neuromancer
June 4th, 2024
Rewriting old sections of academic papers can be a drag, but sometimes it leads to surprising insights. While updating my thesis, “Embedded Sensorization and Deep Learning Based Classification for Prosthetic Control”, I stumbled upon a bold statement I had made:
BCI could be the next groundbreaking interface that catapults humanity into a more symbiotic relationship with technology — beyond the keyboard and touch-screen to something faster, more personal, and seamlessly integrated.
Let’s explore how far we’ve come with BCIs (Brain-Computer Interfaces) and where the revolutionary concept of “heksors” might take us next.
The Current State of BCIs: Promising Yet Problematic.
Recently, Neuralink made waves with successful human tests, overshadowing reports of malfunctioning electrodes. While Neuralink leads with flashy advances, it represents just a slice of the neurotech pie, amplified by significant funding and public attention. For BCIs to become mainstream, several hurdles must be overcome:
- Biocompatibility and Longevity: Transitioning from animal tests to human trials brings unknowns about the long-term effects of implants in the human body.
- Adaptability and Learning: Human behavior is complex and ever-changing; a rigid HMI (Human-Machine Interface) won’t suffice.
- Ethical and Social Implications: As explored in *Cyberpunk 2077*, unregulated tech could turn symbiotic intentions into parasitic outcomes.
- Affordability and Accessibility: Future technologies need to be within reach for everyone, not just the elite.
Insights from Soviet Research: The Legacy of Nikolai Bernstein
Decades ago, Nikolai Bernstein at Moscow’s Central Institute of Labour pioneered studies on human movement, introducing the concept of biomechanics. He discovered that our movements are not fixed; instead, we choose from a spectrum of possibilities to optimize efficiency. For example, he noticed that hammer workers and athletes displayed high levels of precission in hammering nails but when further analyzing the patterns he dicovered that every movement was not a clone of the one before but variations on the trajectories happened very often.
Variations on the trajectories of hammer-workers show that human behaviour is not fixed and repetitive. Specially in “motor tasks”.
His insights into the adaptable human body, aligning with modern understandings of neuroplasticity, have profound implications for BCIs. These devices could potentially be tailored to individual recovery paths and personal capabilities, truly supporting natural human functions.
Bernstein’s work underscores the necessity for BCIs to be flexible and adaptable, harmonizing with the brain’s ability to evolve. This exemplifies where Neurotechnology will help bridging the limitations of BCIs.
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“Heksors” are one of these bridges.
Heksors: A New Frontier for Neurotech
Proposed by Jonathan Wolpaw, heksors refer to distributed networks within the CNS (Central Nervous System) that adjust themselves to maintain key features of adaptive behavior. Heksors are proposed as a counter argument to the classic interpretation of more localised centers of behaviour that has been used up until now. The current interpretation faces a lot of friction when you also try to put neuroplasticity into the picture and all the new findings in neural flexibility that come up everyday. The brain evolves, shifts and heals itself, leveraging different old behaviours with newly learned ones in an exchange that can only be described, in J.Wolpaw´s words as a ‘negotiation’. This concept could drastically shift BCI development by fostering interfaces that evolve with users’ changing needs.
Embracing a Dynamic CNS Model
Traditional BCI approaches often assume a static brain model — designing rigid, unchanging interfaces. Heksor theory celebrates a dynamic CNS, advocating for BCIs that adapt over time, mirroring the brain’s learning and recovery processes.
Enhancing Neuroplasticity Through BCIs
Imagine BCIs that not only connect to neural networks but also actively participate in their reconfiguration, promoting recovery and enhancing learning. For stroke survivors or those with brain injuries, heksor-inspired BCIs could accelerate recovery by encouraging beneficial neural adaptations.
Looking Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities
Implementing heksor-based BCIs requires breakthroughs in imaging, neural mapping, and algorithm development. These systems must understand and predict the CNS’s complex signals to foster a synergistic relationship between the technology and the user.
Conclusion
As we delve deeper into the intersections of neuroscience and technology, heksors offer a blueprint for the next generation of BCIs. These advanced interfaces promise to transform our approach to cognitive enhancement, rehabilitation, and even AI integration, marking the beginning of a new era where technology and human cognition evolve in concert.
Let’s Discuss: How do you envision the future of BCIs and their impact on daily life? Share your thoughts below!
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