Shanghai Science Communication Forum Focuses on China’s Brain-Machine Interface Technology

On July 12, 2025, the 226^th session of the Shanghai Science Communication Forum was held at the first-floor academic lecture hall of the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence of Fudan University. The event featured Professor Wang Shouyan, Vice Dean of the Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-inspired Intelligence of Fudan University, and Director of the Neuromodulation and Brain-Machine Interface Center, who delivered a science lecture titled “Brain-Machine Interface: From Dream to Reality.” The lecture aimed to popularize scientific knowledge on the principles, technologies, and application scenarios of brain-machine interfaces, foster rational public understanding of disruptive technologies, and support Shanghai in building a global hub for brain-machine interface innovation.

In his lecture, Professor Wang Shouyan introduced the basic concepts and development history of brain-machine interfaces and explained in detail three methods of acquiring brain information: non-invasive brain-machine interfaces, implantable brain-machine interfaces, and minimally invasive brain-machine interfaces. He noted that the primary application scenarios for brain-machine interface technology lie in the field of medical health. These include neurological rehabilitation, such as enabling speech communication for patients with aphasia, motor control for paralyzed patients, and motor function reconstruction for paraplegic patients; treatment of intractable diseases, such as closed-loop neural regulation for Parkinson’s disease, pain, and epilepsy; as well as brain function improvement, such as treating insomnia and depressive symptoms.