Breakthroughs

                                

    In order for our future technology to become a reality many breakthroughs in present technology must occur. First, more complex neural networks would have to be devised that would function like neurons and be accepted properly in the human brain and work well with the other cells in the brain. These neural networks would have to be expanded and must be able to carry out complex operations. Next, the microchips or nanochips in the neural networks must be small enough to be able to integrate and communicate with human neurons. Third, neuronal networks must be adapted to be able to interpret chemical and electrical impulses from the  sensory and association cortices of the brain to initiate the many actions of the person’s paralyzed limbs. With our future technology we would strive to make it possible to restore function to paralyzed body parts.

                        One of the complicated breakthroughs that must occur to make this future technology a reality is that a nerve-stimulating enzyme must be developed that allows axons and dendrites to grow into the neuronal networks. As told in the Present Technology section today much research is being done with epidermal growth factors (EGF) and fibroblast growth factors (FGF). These substances try to enhance the ability of neurogenesis so more neurons can be replaced when brain damage occurs. However, the molecules of EGFs and FGFs have trouble crossing the blood-brain barrier. So in the future for our technology an enzyme must be created that can be released directly from the neural networks into the brain, without having to cross the blood-brain barrier, stimulating the axons and dendrites to grow into the microchips. This enzyme would primarily enhance connections of the remaining living cells with the microchip.

Below is a diagram of what we envision to be a futuristic neural net.