China launches world's 1st magnetic resonance platform for brain-computer interface

ISTANBUL

China has recently launched the world's first magnetic resonance platform customized for brain-computer interface (BCI) technology in northern Tianjin Municipality, the state-run Xinhua News reported on Monday.

The platform has established a neuroimaging magnetic resonance system to provide crucial support for the research and development of next-generation BCI technology.

Researchers from the Haihe Laboratory of Brain-Computer Interaction and Human-Machine Integration at Tianjin University, Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare, and other institutions have leveraged the spatial-temporal resolution capabilities of magnetic resonance technology to enable non-invasive, high-resolution imaging in vivo analysis of the entire brain.

This new platform allows for the simultaneous execution of nuclear magnetic imaging and electroencephalography (EEG) recordings, enabling the precise detection of subtle changes in brain activity.

It can pinpoint the location of these activities with sub-millimeter precision and track their timing with sub-second accuracy.

Moreover, the system can regulate brain activity through ultrasound and electrical stimulation, with the regulation process integrated in real-time with the imaging system.

This facilitates the synchronous coordination of observation and intervention, offering researchers a dynamic and three-dimensional view of brain function.

Zhang Qiang, chairman of Shanghai United Imaging Healthcare, highlighted that this platform is poised to advance practical applications of brain-computer interfaces (BCI) in the medical and healthcare sectors, including mental health evaluations, monitoring severe neurological conditions, and supporting rehabilitation training.

He added that it will help shift BCI technology from simply "decoding signals" to truly "understanding the brain."