Connecting your mind to a computer (BCIs and LBMs)

Hi folks,

Ever wondered how we could connect our minds to a computer? A Brain Computer Interface (BCI)? The idea has been around in science fiction for a long time, and the desire to see into one’s own mind is as ancient as humanity’s ability to think and reason.

Some researchers speculate that we may be able to map an entire human brain within the next 100 years. This effort is known as the Connectome. While the Connectome aims for a faithful mapping of every detail of the brain, what if we do not actually need all the details?

Brain simulation is an alternative to full brain emulation via the Connectome. By using partial datasets, some from connectomics, but others from BCIs such as fMRI, EEG, fNIRS, PET, or even more invasive implants, we could train AI models to behave, while not exactly, reliably, like an individual brain.

This concept of creating an AI model of the brain using neurophysiological data has been called a Large Brain Model (LBM). LBMs are already being developed today, and one could speculate they may become far more prevalent in the future.

The potential use cases of LBMs are vast. One near-term application is building personalized brain maps to better understand mental illness. More aspirational possibilities include linking a Large Language Model (LLM) with an LBM, allowing us to ask questions through language directly of our own brain data, both conscious and unconscious, and truly see inside the mind.

This is an area I am researching into right now. Join me for a short discussion on this topic, followed by a Q&A.

Kind regards,
Ryan

———————————————————————————————————————

This talk is part of the 🧠 NYC Philosophy & Psychology Readers Spring Conference 2026
For full event details—including venue, schedule, and attendance info—visit:
👉 https://www.meetup.com/reading-philosophy/events/312317415/
———————————————————————————————————————