Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Using brain-computer interface technology in medical education

Daniel Gomez Ramos
Tech
November 5, 2017
Share
Tweet
Share

Brain-computer interface (BCI) has been a topic of interest for several decades, and many discoveries have been made. The role of BCI has been monumental and significantly impactful in the field of medicine. It has been gaining much progress in recent decades with inventions such as the encephalophone, in which a person can create music with their thoughts alone, or a patient can move a cursor icon on a monitor by a receiver converting brainwave activity into executed computer actions. These are only a few examples of the potential in this type of technology. It can easily be assumed that this technology will be deeply integrated into patient care. Since technology has been progressively entering most professional fields, it is certainly going to be a primary component to the underpinnings of several jobs. That is why I think it is imperative that medical students begin to learn more about technology, especially BCI.

Undergraduate medical education has experienced many changes as more information is presented and as society changes. It is especially important medical colleges begin to add BCI education into their curricula. By educating student doctors on this type of technology at an early stage, it would ultimately prepare the next generation of physicians on how to use BCI for the benefit of patients. As an example, if students were to use BCI technology during their pre-clinical years in simulated patient lab experiences, then they could transfer these skills during their clerkship years when possible. Imagine BCI technology being used by a recently graduated neurology resident who would like to determine if a patient in a coma state still retains the functional, creative aspect of their cortex by having the patient create music with their thoughts, along with some input from the frontal cortex. This would most likely be combined with another research-based technology that is currently being work on in which physicians could stimulate the patient sufficiently to react to commands.

Another example would be in a scenario in which a physiatrist could use BCI technology to augment natural functions of patients who lost their motor or sensory component of muscle groups after an accident or due to a neurodegenerative disease, not only for rehabilitative purposes.

The potential of BCI is expansive, but it does have limitations in respect to utilization. One of which would be a patient who suffers from multiple peripheral pathologies which affect the central nervous system, in which case BCI would only be adjunctive rather than the mainstay treatment. These are all topics that can be taught and discussed at the undergraduate medical and residency stage. Even in the case, a doctor does not decide to implement such technology into practice, it will be useful knowledge and can prepare them for any possible situations where it may be required in times of transition. An ongoing example would be the paper format of patient documentation to electronic health records (EHRs). Future physicians would have a broader skill set and be more equipped to handle different cases. May it be more or less efficiently is still something to be seen.

It should be noted that BCI can be divided into three types: non-invasive BCI, semi-invasive BCI, and invasive BCI. Although the article mainly focuses on the reason why medical colleges and residency programs should include BCI education, all types of technology that will heavily impact the medical profession should be included.

Daniel Gomez Ramos is a medical student.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

How you design your schedule has far-reaching consequences

November 5, 2017 Kevin 2
…
Next

Advice for alternative medicine practitioners: Stay in your lane

November 5, 2017 Kevin 4
…

Tagged as: Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
How you design your schedule has far-reaching consequences
Next Post >
Advice for alternative medicine practitioners: Stay in your lane

ADVERTISEMENT

More by Daniel Gomez Ramos

  • It’s time to consider blockchain technology for EHRs

    Daniel Gomez Ramos

Related Posts

  • Use technology to fix medical education

    Jimmy J. Qian
  • The medical education system hates families

    Anonymous
  • America’s inadequate LGBTQ medical education

    Haidn Foster
  • Why positive role models are essential in medical education

    Robert Centor, MD
  • How medical education fails minority students

    Shenyece Ferguson
  • Reimagining medical education from within a pandemic

    Kasey Johnson, DO

More in Tech

  • Would The Pitts’ Dr. Robby Robinavitch welcome a new colleague? Yes. Especially if their initials were AI.

    Gabe Jones, MBA
  • Generative AI 2025: a 20-minute cheat sheet for busy clinicians

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Why public health must be included in AI development

    Laura E. Scudiere, RN, MPH
  • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

    Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA
  • AI and humanity in health care: Preserving what makes us human

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • AI is not a threat to radiologists. It’s a distraction from what truly matters in medicine.

    Fardad Behzadi, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why Canada is losing its skilled immigrant doctors

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Would The Pitts’ Dr. Robby Robinavitch welcome a new colleague? Yes. Especially if their initials were AI.

      Gabe Jones, MBA | Tech
    • Why medicine must stop worshipping burnout and start valuing humanity

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why screening for diseases you might have can backfire

      Andy Lazris, MD and Alan Roth, DO | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

ADVERTISEMENT

  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • How community paramedicine impacts Indigenous elders

      Noah Weinberg | Conditions
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • Why tracking cognitive load could save doctors and patients

      Hiba Fatima Hamid | Education
    • Why are medical students turning away from primary care? [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why “do no harm” might be harming modern medicine

      Sabooh S. Mubbashar, MD | Physician
    • Here’s what providers really need in a modern EHR

      Laura Kohlhagen, MD, MBA | Tech
    • What the world must learn from the life and death of Hind Rajab

      Saba Qaiser, RN | Conditions
    • How medical culture hides burnout in plain sight

      Marco Benítez | Conditions
  • Recent Posts

    • Addressing U.S. vaccine inequities in vulnerable communities [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Why Canada is losing its skilled immigrant doctors

      Olumuyiwa Bamgbade, MD | Physician
    • Why doctors are reclaiming control from burnout culture

      Maureen Gibbons, MD | Physician
    • Would The Pitts’ Dr. Robby Robinavitch welcome a new colleague? Yes. Especially if their initials were AI.

      Gabe Jones, MBA | Tech
    • Why medicine must stop worshipping burnout and start valuing humanity

      Sarah White, APRN | Conditions
    • Why screening for diseases you might have can backfire

      Andy Lazris, MD and Alan Roth, DO | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...