From Restoring Movement to Mental Health: The Next Frontier of Brain-Computer Interfaces
24 June 2025, 10-11 a.m. CET / 04-05 p.m. CST
Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have demonstrated remarkable success in restoring movement by translating neural activity into control signals for external devices. These advances provide a foundation for extending BCIs beyond the motor domain, toward the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders. More than one billion people worldwide suffer from conditions such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), addiction, and dementia, yet effective, side effect-free treatments remain scarce. A major challenge lies in linking neuroimaging findings on cortical and subcortical metabolism to the dynamic oscillatory processes that govern brain function. Recent developments in neurotechnology open new possibilities for precise, non-invasive neuromodulation. Brain state-dependent magnetic stimulation could enable selective modulation of deep brain structures, but current methods are limited by stimulation artifacts, insufficient focality, and inadequate temporal resolution. By combining quantum sensor technology with temporally precise neuromodulation, these barriers can be overcome. However, such neurotechnological tools must be embedded within a holistic treatment concept that integrates complementary approaches, such as digital health applications and psychosocial interventions. This aligns with the broader framework of psychotechnology, which emphasizes the interplay of neurotechnology, digital therapeutics, and contextual factors in shaping mental health outcomes. This lecture will present the state of the art in BCIs and non-invasive neuromodulation, illustrating how the principles of motor BCIs can be leveraged for neuropsychiatric applications. Future directions include real-time brain state assessment and closed-loop stimulation strategies, integrated into a broader psychotechnology ecosystem, to transform treatment paradigms for mental health disorders.