Avatar therapy for psychosis, how to age without getting old and brain-computer interfaces
Flourish Feed. An intentional redirection of our attention towards inspired hope, to rekindle our optimism for the good.
An intentional redirection to refocus our attention towards stories that inspire hope. These are the headlines to rekindle our optimism and remind us of the good and excitement in humanity.
A curated round-up of what’s juicy in health, wellness, science, fitness, self-help, spirituality, creativity, and the uplifting things in between.
Let’s flood our awareness with narratives of human flourishing, neatly categorised into our core four pillars: brain, mind, body, and soul.
Watch the video above for a quick look at where brain-computer interface technology is and the company at the forefront of its innovation and research.
Neurotechnology. Brain-computer interface (BCI). (US) In a pioneering University of Chicago study published in Science, researchers achieved two-way communication between the brain and robotic hands. This ingenious innovation enabled paralysed volunteers to control movement and experience realistic sensations of touch, by way of brain-implanted electrodes. Using Blackrock Neurotech technology (not related to the investment company) subjects were able to feel edges, shapes, and movement.
A living human was able to feel the sensation of touch through a robotic bionic arm! This is mind-blowingly monumental. The participants could trace letters blindfolded using the tips of their brain-controlled bionic fingers, transforming sci-fi dreams into reality. I am in awe!
While mass adoption remains distant, scientists are optimistic and expect future progress will focus on enhancing synthetic skin sensitivity rather than improving brain implants alone. This leap extends into other applications, including for post-mastectomy patients.
The Bionic Breast Project aims to develop implants that restore natural sensation after mastectomy for breast cancer patients by connecting to remaining sensory nerves, allowing patients to feel touch, pressure, and temperature in reconstructed breasts. This innovation combines surgical advancement, sensory restoration, and brain-computer interface technology to improve quality of life post-mastectomy.
Neurotechnology. Avatar Therapy. (UK) King’s College London has developed a novel treatment showing positive clinical trial results in reducing auditory hallucinations and related distress in psychosis patients through assisted digital avatar interventions. This promising new therapy raises intriguing questions about internal dialogues, cognitive processing and how the mind works.
With extended 12 sessions of assisted treatment participants gained stronger, sustained benefits compared to standard care, leading to NHS implementation plans and potential global expansion through AI-enhanced versions being developed for Ethiopia and India by 2027.
Mental Health. Play a game of Tetris. A groundbreaking study reveals that a single guided 20-minute session of playing Tetris (yes that video game from the 80s) significantly reduced PTSD symptoms in healthcare workers, who were suffering frequent troubling flashbacks post-pandemic, with a dramatic decrease from 15 to just 1 intrusive trauma memory per week after five weeks, compared to 5 memories in the control group, with benefits persisting for six months. The benefit is believed to be due to the game's mental rotation mechanics, which creates a positive sense of control, potentially helping to "overwrite" the brain’s activation of trauma-related flashbacks.
