Monday, June 09, 2025

Beyond the brain: how BCIs are rewiring medicine and redefining humanity

Peking Union Medical College Hospital

image:
Showcases cutting-edge products in the field of brain-computer interface (BCI): A: coin-sized chip; B: BCI-enhanced headset; C: electrode encapsulation film; D: endovascular stent electrode; E: graphene-based neural chip; F: mesh Lace data acquisition array.
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Credit: Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology is opening an unprecedented chapter in human-machine integration by establishing direct communication between the brain and external devices. Once a science fiction concept, BCI is now reshaping the landscape of neurosurgery and neurorehabilitation. By decoding brain signals to restore lost motor, sensory, and language functions, BCIs offer new hope for individuals affected by paralysis, aphasia, and neurodegenerative diseases. But their impact extends well beyond the clinic—BCIs are poised to influence cognition, ethical governance, and national security. As this disruptive technology matures, it promises to transform how we interact with the world, illuminating the brain’s inner workings and advancing the frontier of precision medicine.

From the spoken word to the digital age, humanity has been shaped by its evolving ability to communicate. Now, Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) mark the next leap: a direct interface between mind and machine. Originally rooted in experimental neuroscience, the field has rapidly progressed through breakthroughs in neural signal decoding, AI, and bioengineering. Despite remarkable strides, key obstacles remain. Signal stability, long-term biocompatibility, and affordability continue to challenge clinical translation. Ethical concerns around autonomy, identity, and mental privacy also loom large. Due to these challenges, a deeper investigation into both the transformative potential and inherent risks of BCIs is urgently needed.

A comprehensive review (DOI: 10.12290/xhyxzz.2025-0152) led by Professor Zhao Jizong of Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, published in March 2025 in the Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital, explores how BCI technologies are reshaping neurosurgical practices and redefining brain-related care. The study synthesizes the latest advancements in invasive and non-invasive BCIs, clinical applications, and integration with AI. It reveals how BCIs are emerging not only as therapeutic tools but as platforms for decoding cognition and enabling intelligent, brain-directed interventions.

BCIs function by detecting neural signals and translating them into commands that control external devices—essentially bypassing damaged pathways to restore function. These systems range from non-invasive headsets to fully implantable microelectrode arrays, each with varying precision and risks. Clinically, BCI devices have enabled paralyzed individuals to regain movement and aphasia patients to communicate through decoded speech intentions. Cutting-edge hardware, including graphene-based chips and flexible cortical films, enhance signal resolution while minimizing immune response. In neurosurgery, BCIs have transformed intraoperative brain mapping, allowing real-time navigation that preserves critical cognitive and motor regions during tumor resections. Closed-loop systems show exceptional promise in managing Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy, adjusting neural stimulation based on live brain activity. Emerging avenues include using BCIs to detect consciousness in non-responsive patients, assist in psychiatric treatment, and even boost memory in those with Alzheimer’s disease. As AI integration improves decoding speed and accuracy, BCIs are rapidly evolving from assistive devices into precision tools for intelligent brain modulation.

“BCI technology represents one of the most exciting frontiers in neuroscience and clinical medicine,” said Professor Zhao Jizong, a leading neurosurgeon and the study’s corresponding author. “Its ability to restore lost functions and interface directly with the brain invites us to rethink the boundaries of medicine, ethics, and human identity. As we move forward, multidisciplinary collaboration and ethical frameworks will be critical in ensuring this technology is harnessed responsibly and equitably.”

The horizon for BCI applications is rapidly expanding. In clinical practice, they promise more personalized and effective treatments for stroke recovery, spinal cord injury, and neurodegeneration. Beyond hospitals, BCIs could redefine human-computer interaction—enabling cognition-based communication, virtual control, and even mental augmentation. However, widespread deployment depends on overcoming technical hurdles such as long-term device stability and regulatory approval, as well as societal concerns over mental privacy and equity. With continued innovation and cross-sector coordination, BCIs could soon move from experimental trials to transformative tools in intelligent healthcare and neuro-enhancement.

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References

DOI

10.12290/xhyxzz.2025-0152

Original Source URL

https://dx.doi.org/10.12290/xhyxzz.2025-0152

Funding information

International (Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) Science and Technology Cooperation Project (Z221100002722014); Youth Scholar Program of the Beijing Brain and Brain-Inspired Research Center (2022-NKX-XM-02); Research on Motor Function Reconstruction Using the ECoG-Based Flexible Fully Implantable “Beinao-1” Intelligent Brain-Computer Interface System (HX-A-2024093).

About Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital

Medical Journal of Peking Union Medical College Hospital is a leading clinical medicine publication, supported by the multidisciplinary expertise of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. It features the latest research, advancements, and academic trends in clinical and translational medicine, pharmacy, and related interdisciplinary fields, catering to clinicians and medical students across China. The journal aims to promote the exchange of medical knowledge and serve as a high-quality platform for leading academic discussions and fostering scholarly debate in clinical medicine. The journal is listed in China's Core Journals of Science and Technology (CSTPCD), Chinese Science Citation Database (CSCD), A Guide to the Core Journals of China, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CMCC). Full-text content is accessible on platforms such as Wanfang Data, CNKI, and Chongqing VIP Database. It is indexed in Scopus (Netherlands), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) in Sweden, and the Japan Science and Technology Agency Database (JST).

DOI

10.12290/xhyxzz.2025-0152

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Brain-Computer Interface: A Revolutionary Technology Expanding the Frontiers of the Human Brain and the Future of Neurosurgery

Emerging pollutants are aggravating water crisis in developing countries, dossier says

In addition to the scarcity and unequal distribution of water, quality is being strongly affected by agricultural pesticides, industrial waste, and the disposal of medicines and hygiene products.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo

As the population grows and urbanization and agro-industrial activity increase, the demand for freshwater is expected to rise by 55% by 2050. Experts project that this increase in demand will strongly impact a scenario already characterized by scarce and unequally distributed water resources, the privatization of an essential public asset, and deteriorating water quality, especially in developing countries.

Forced migration, social tensions, and military conflicts caused by the water deficit are making this situation even worse. This is not a possible future scenario, but something that is already happening now. From 1970 to 2000, there was a 10% increase in global migration related to water shortages. According to a 2024 report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2.2 billion people lacked access to safely managed drinking water at that time. Since 2022, approximately half of the world’s population has experienced severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, and a quarter has faced “extremely high” levels of water stress.

In this context, the journal Frontiers in Water published a dossier entitled “Emerging Water Contaminants in Developing Countries: Detection, Monitoring, and Impact of Xenobiotics”, which brings together five articles on the subject.

Geonildo Rodrigo Disner, a researcher at the Butantan Institute in São Paulo, Brazil, and a member of the Center for Toxins, Immune Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS) – a FAPESP Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (RIDC) – was co-editor and lead author of the editorial presenting the dossier.

“In addition to conventional contaminants, such as fecal coliforms, the presence of which is linked to low levels of sewage treatment, the freshwater in developing countries is increasingly being impacted by a new category of pollutants: emerging contaminants. These include agricultural pesticides, fuel additives, plasticizers or non-stick materials, medicines [such as antibiotics, painkillers, and hormones], hygiene products, and cosmetics,” says Disner.

Although they are not necessarily new, these compounds have been detected in concentrations and environments that were previously unrecorded, generating growing concern. This is the case with the herbicides diuron (used mainly on sugarcane and cotton crops), glyphosate (used mainly on soybean and corn crops), atrazine (used mainly on corn and sorghum crops), and 2,4-D (used to control broadleaf plants on pastures and crops).

“Because they aren’t removed by conventional water treatment methods, these pollutants accumulate in aquatic ecosystems and can cause toxic effects, even at extremely low concentrations. Many act as endocrine disruptors, impacting the reproduction and development of organisms – effects that can extend to human health. Exposure is generally chronic, continuous, and silent. And many of these compounds bioaccumulate along the food chain, further increasing the health risks,” says Disner.

The researcher points out that everything ultimately ends up in water. Water is the ultimate repository for most pollutants, including those released into the soil or air. In addition, water transports contaminants even to regions where they have never been used.

“Despite the risks, most emerging contaminants are still not regularly monitored or regulated by specific legislation. In general, treatment systems only remove coarse materials, such as suspended particles, part of the organic matter, and microorganisms. Even in the city of São Paulo, where we have a relatively more developed structure, all 27 pesticides tested were detected by the Water Quality Surveillance Information System [SISAGUA] in the monitored water. We live in a region with enormous pressure on water resources, and the treatment we have is still limited,” emphasizes Disner.

Faced with this situation, the articles in the dossier explore the challenges and recent advances in identifying, monitoring, and assessing the impact of emerging contaminants in low- and middle-income countries. One paper, written by Sri Lankan researchers, investigates the presence of heavy metals in groundwater and locally grown rice, linking exposure to a high incidence of chronic kidney disease. Another study from Bangladesh analyzed the quality of commercially sold bottled water, revealing contamination by arsenic and pathogenic microorganisms. A study from Brazil, conducted by researchers from São Paulo State University (UNESP), evaluates the toxic effects of diuron and its metabolites on zebrafish, an animal model used in ecotoxicological studies.

In addition to contaminants, the researcher highlights a broader structural issue: unequal access to water and the already visible effects of climate change. “Major floods, as we recently saw in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, compromise the entire structure for collecting and distributing drinking water. On the other hand, there are regions that are facing severe droughts. Between 2002 and 2021, droughts affected more than 1.4 billion people,” he says.

The dispute over water is already a reality in some parts of the world, and it is likely to intensify in the coming decades. According to a UNESCO report, approximately 40% of the world’s population lives in transboundary river and lake basins, but only one-fifth of countries have transboundary agreements to jointly manage these resources in an equitable manner. Many transboundary basins are located in regions characterized by current or historical international tensions.

“Water is becoming a geostrategic resource. And the privatization of water sources could transform this asset into a currency of control and power. We’re used to talking about the dispute over oil, but the dispute over water could be even fiercer. Water needs to be treated as a right. And it’s not just about access, but also about quality. Guaranteeing quality drinking water for the population is a duty of the State,” emphasizes Disner.

The authors of the dossier emphasize that preventing pollutants from entering aquatic ecosystems is essential and that this could be achieved through source prevention, the precautionary principle, and the remediation of contaminated areas. They also advocate creating regulatory frameworks and monitoring programs specifically aimed at emerging contaminants, with the aim of protecting human and environmental health, thus contributing to achieving the United Nations’ (UN) global sustainable development goals.

Disner’s participation was supported by FAPESP through a postdoctoral scholarship awarded to the researcher.

About FAPESP

The São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration.

Journal

Frontiers in Water

DOI

10.3389/frwa.2025.1584752

Article Title

Emerging Water Contaminants in Developing Countries: Detection, Monitoring, and Impact of Xenobiotics

Fossilized dinosaur gut shows that sauropods barely chewed

Cell Press

Fossilized sauropod gut content — image:
Australian Age of Dinosaurs Collection Manager Mackenzie Enchelmaier holds up sauropod gut content fossil.

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Credit: Stephen Poropat

Plant fossils found in the abdomen of a sauropod support the long-standing hypothesis that these dinosaurs were herbivores, finds a study publishing June 9 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology. The dinosaur, which was alive an estimated 94 to 101 million years ago, ate a variety of plants and relied almost entirely on its gut microbes for digestion.

“No genuine sauropod gut contents had ever been found anywhere before, despite sauropods being known from fossils found on every continent and despite the group being known to span at least 130 million years of time,” says lead author Stephen Poropat of Curtin University. “This finding confirms several hypotheses about the sauropod diet that had been made based on studies of their anatomy and comparisons with modern-day animals.”

Knowledge of the diet of dinosaurs is critical for understanding their biology and the role they played in ancient ecosystems, say the researchers. However, very few dinosaur fossils have been found with cololites, or preserved gut contents. Sauropod cololites have remained particularly elusive, even though these dinosaurs may have been the most ecologically impactful terrestrial herbivores worldwide throughout much of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, given their gigantic sizes. Due to this lack of direct evidence when it comes to diet, the specifics of sauropod herbivory—including the plant taxa they ate—have been largely inferred based on anatomical features such as tooth wear, jaw morphology, and neck length.

In the summer of 2017, the staff and volunteers at the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History were excavating a relatively complete subadult skeleton of the sauropod Diamantinasaurus matildae from the mid-Cretaceous period, which was found in the Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia. During this process, they noticed an unusual, fractured rock layer that appeared to contain the sauropod’s cololite, which consisted of many well-preserved plant fossils.

Analysis of the plant specimens within the cololite showed that sauropods likely only engaged in minimal oral processing of their food, relying instead on fermentation and their gut microbiota for digestion. The cololite consisted of a variety of plants, including foliage from conifers (cone-bearing seed plants), seed-fern fruiting bodies (plant structures that hold seeds), and leaves from angiosperms (flowering plants), indicating that Diamantinasaurus was an indiscriminate, bulk feeder.

“The plants within show evidence of having been severed, possibly bitten, but have not been chewed, supporting the hypothesis of bulk feeding in sauropods,” says Poropat.

The researchers also found chemical biomarkers of both angiosperms and gymnosperms—a group of woody, seed-producing plants that include conifers. “This implies that at least some sauropods were not selective feeders, instead eating whatever plants they could reach and safely process,” Poropat says. “These findings largely corroborate past ideas regarding the enormous influence that sauropods must have had on ecosystems worldwide during the Mesozoic Era.”

Although it was not unexpected that the gut contents provided support for sauropod herbivory and bulk feeding, Poropat was surprised to find angiosperms in the dinosaur’s gut. “Angiosperms became approximately as diverse as conifers in Australia around 100 to 95 million years ago, when this sauropod was alive,” he says. “This suggests that sauropods had successfully adapted to eat flowering plants within 40 million years of the first evidence of the presence of these plants in the fossil record.”

Based on these findings, the team suggests that Diamantinasaurus likely fed on both low- and high-growing plants, at least before adulthood. As hatchlings, sauropods could only access plants found close to the ground, but as they grew, so did their viable dietary options. In addition, the prevalence of small shoots, bracts, and seed pods in the cololite implies that subadult Diamantinasaurus targeted new growth portions of conifers and seed ferns, which are easier to digest.

According to the authors, the strategy of indiscriminate bulk feeding seems to have served sauropods well for 130 million years and might have enabled their success and longevity as a clade. Despite the importance of this discovery, Poropat pointed out a few caveats.

“The primary limitation of this study is that the sauropod gut contents we describe constitute a single data point,” he explains. “These gut contents only tell us about the last meal or several meals of a single subadult sauropod individual,” says Poropat. “We don't know if the plants preserved in our sauropod represent its typical diet or the diet of a stressed animal. We also don't know how indicative the plants in the gut contents are of juvenile or adult sauropods, since ours is a subadult, and we don't know how seasonality might have affected this sauropod's diet.”

Artist impression of *Diamantinasaurus matildae* feeding.
Credit
Travis Tischler

Lead author Stephen Poropat at the Judy excavation site in Australia in June 2017.

Credit

Stephen Poropat

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This research was supported by funding from the Australian Research Council.

Current Biology, Poropat et al., “Fossilized gut contents elucidate the feeding habits of sauropod dinosaurs” https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00550-0

Current Biology (@CurrentBiology), published by Cell Press, is a bimonthly journal that features papers across all areas of biology. Current Biology strives to foster communication across fields of biology, both by publishing important findings of general interest and through highly accessible front matter for non-specialists. Visit: http://www.cell.com/current-biology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.

Journal

Current Biology

DOI

10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.053

Method of Research

Observational study

Article Title

Fossilized gut contents elucidate the feeding habits of sauropod dinosaurs

Article Publication Date

9-Jun-2025

School dental treatments stop kids’ tooth decay in its tracks

Minimal approaches successfully kept most cavities from worsening when given in a school-based program

New York University

Two topical treatments applied to kids’ cavities can stop the majority of them from progressing for years, according to a study led by NYU College of Dentistry and published in JAMA Network Open.

Treating more than 10,000 cavities in New York City elementary school students, the researchers found that both atraumatic restorations (ART) and silver diamine fluoride (SDF) kept most dental decay from worsening, supporting the use of non-surgical approaches for managing cavities.

Children miss an estimated 34 million hours of school each year due to emergency dental care. Bringing cavity prevention programs to schools can improve kids’ oral health and stave off many issues that drive the need for urgent treatment, including extractions due to pain, abscess, or risk of infection.

In school-based dental programs, health professionals often use sealants—thin, protective coatings applied to the surface of children’s back teeth—to safeguard against tooth decay. But few programs address existing cavities. ART can be used to stop the progression of cavities by removing tooth decay with hand instruments and applying the same protective material as sealants. SDF has also emerged as a promising tool for cavity prevention and treatment; originally approved by the FDA for treating tooth sensitivity, the liquid is brushed onto teeth to kill decay-causing bacteria and remineralize teeth to prevent further decay.

To compare the use of SDF and ART, researchers at NYU College of Dentistry led a large clinical trial in New York City elementary schools as part of their CariedAway cavity prevention program. At twice-yearly school visits, health professionals examined children’s teeth and applied either ART or SDF followed by fluoride varnish to any existing cavities, depending on which treatment the school was randomly assigned to receive.

In a previous analysis of the CariedAway study, NYU researchers reported that a single treatment of either ART or SDF kept approximately 50 percent of cavities from worsening over two years.

Their latest analysis, published in JAMA Network Open, focused on more than 1,600 children ages 5 to 13 who had cavities on one or more teeth. SDF or ART were applied to the children’s teeth—including more than 10,000 cavities—during biannual school visits. The students were followed for up to four years to see if their tooth decay worsened or stayed the same.

“This study is our most robust analysis of these different cavity prevention techniques, as we focused on decay on each tooth surface and measured it up to four years,” said Ryan Richard Ruff, PhD, MPH, associate professor of epidemiology & health promotion at NYU College of Dentistry and a principal investigator of CariedAway.

The researchers found that SDF and ART had similar results when applied to cavities: SDF kept 62 percent of decayed surfaces from worsening over four years, while ART controlled 55 percent.

“Offering ART or SDF in schools can help avoid the need for more invasive dental treatment and improve access to preventive care,” said Tamarinda J. Barry Godín, DDS, MPH, a research scientist at NYU College of Dentistry and CariedAway project director.

Additional study authors include Aditi Ashish Gawande and Qianhui Xu of NYU. The research was funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCS-1609-36824).

About NYU College of Dentistry

Founded in 1865, New York University College of Dentistry (NYU Dentistry) is the third oldest and the largest dental school in the US, educating nearly 10 percent of the nation’s dentists. NYU Dentistry has a significant global reach with a highly diverse student body. Visit dental.nyu.edu for more.

Journal

JAMA Network Open

DOI

10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13826

Method of Research

Randomized controlled/clinical trial