The History And Future Of Brain Computer Interfaces – Sumner Norman
In this episode, we dive into the world of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) with Sumner Norman, co-founder and CEO of Forest Neuro. We trace the history of neurotechnology from the initial experiments with electricity and dead frog legs in the 1700s, to the first-ever recording of "brain waves" in the 1920s, to the groundbreaking animal and human trials of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Sumner explains the difference between various BCI approaches, from invasive implants like Neuralink to his own company's less-invasive ultrasound technology. He reveals how a background in mechanical engineering led him to an obsession with the human-machine interface and the ultimate goal of developing a single device that can treat a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
We also explore the ethical and technological challenges of BCI development, including the trade-off between invasiveness and performance, the high cost of R&D, and the long road to commercialization. Sumner shares some of the early, promising results from Forest Neuro's human trials, including their ability to detect "covert consciousness" in coma patients. We discuss the potential for BCIs to treat severe mental health conditions and their role in a future where humans might need to compete with artificial intelligence. Finally, we tackle the sci-fi concept of brain uploading and why it might be more complex than just storing a snapshot of a brain on a hard drive.
Subscribe to watch more Core Memory videos https://www.youtube.com/@CoreMemoryVideos/videos
Check out our podcasts https://www.youtube.com/@CoreMemoryVideos/podcasts
https://www.corememory.com/podcast
Find Ashlee Vance at
www.corememory.com
https://www.instagram.com/ashlee.vance/
https://x.com/ashleevance
Timestamps
00:00 - Intro
01:06 - Meet Sumner Norman
02:34 - From Rockets to Brains
03:32 - Growing Up in Utah
05:39 - Discovering Robotics Control
09:08 - Early Haptics Research
11:35 - First Stroke Rehab Insights
12:45 - Teaching Himself Neuroscience
16:38 - Brain Implants History
26:53 - Rise of the Utah Array
34:38 - Neuralink’s Bold Approach
39:00 - Deep Brain Stimulation Origins
36:25 - Forest Neuro’s Ultrasound Implant
49:24 - Coma Communication Breakthrough
01:02:23 - Future of Brain Interfaces
01:24:42 - Brain Uploading Debate
In this episode, we dive into the world of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) with Sumner Norman, co-founder and CEO of Forest Neuro. We trace the history of neurotechnology from the initial experiments with electricity and dead frog legs in the 1700s, to the first-ever recording of “brain waves” in the 1920s, to the groundbreaking animal and human trials of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Sumner explains the difference between various BCI approaches, from invasive implants like Neuralink to his own company’s less-invasive ultrasound technology. He reveals how a background in mechanical engineering led him to an obsession with the human-machine interface and the ultimate goal of developing a single device that can treat a wide range of neurological and psychiatric conditions.
We also explore the ethical and technological challenges of BCI development, including the trade-off between invasiveness and performance, the high cost of R&D, and the long road to commercialization. Sumner shares some of the early, promising results from Forest Neuro’s human trials, including their ability to detect “covert consciousness” in coma patients. We discuss the potential for BCIs to treat severe mental health conditions and their role in a future where humans might need to compete with artificial intelligence. Finally, we tackle the sci-fi concept of brain uploading and why it might be more complex than just storing a snapshot of a brain on a hard drive.
Subscribe to watch more Core Memory videos https://www.youtube.com/@CoreMemoryVideos/videos
Check out our podcasts https://www.youtube.com/@CoreMemoryVideos/podcasts
https://www.corememory.com/podcast
Find Ashlee Vance at
www.corememory.com
https://www.instagram.com/ashlee.vance/
https://x.com/ashleevance
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:06 – Meet Sumner Norman
02:34 – From Rockets to Brains
03:32 – Growing Up in Utah
05:39 – Discovering Robotics Control
09:08 – Early Haptics Research
11:35 – First Stroke Rehab Insights
12:45 – Teaching Himself Neuroscience
16:38 – Brain Implants History
26:53 – Rise of the Utah Array
34:38 – Neuralink’s Bold Approach
39:00 – Deep Brain Stimulation Origins
36:25 – Forest Neuro’s Ultrasound Implant
49:24 – Coma Communication Breakthrough
01:02:23 – Future of Brain Interfaces
01:24:42 – Brain Uploading Debate
