VOA英语：马斯克演示Neuralink脑机接口技术
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Elon Musk Demonstrates Technology Linking Computer to Brain
马斯克演示Neuralink脑机接口技术
By Bryan Lynn
02 September 2020
American billionaire Elon Musk has demonstrated a technology designed to use a computer chip inside the head to control the brain.
美国亿万富翁埃隆·马斯克演示了一项旨在利用脑内计算机芯片控制大脑的技术。
During a video demonstration on Friday, Musk provided details about the system, called Neuralink. In addition to leading the Neuralink startup, Musk also heads electric carmaker Tesla and U.S. space company SpaceX.
在周五的演示视频中，马斯克提供了关于Neuralink系统的详细信息。除了领导Neuralink初创公司，马斯克还领导着特斯拉电动汽车制造厂和美国太空探索技术公司。
Musk says he hopes the technology can be used to treat neural disorders and help spinal injury victims regain body movement. Musk also believes the system could be used in the future to improve intelligence to help humans keep up with supercomputers and artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
马斯克表示，他希望这项技术可以用于治疗神经疾病，并帮助脊髓损伤患者恢复身体运动。马斯克还认为，该系统未来可能会用于提高智力水平，帮助人类跟上超级计算机和人工智能技术的发展。
During the demonstration, Musk showed off a model of the Neuralink device. It is about 23 millimeters wide. It is designed to be implanted into a person's skull. Small wires would connect the device directly to the brain.
在演示过程中，马斯克展示了Neuralink设备的模型。它宽约23毫米。它的设计目的是植入人类头骨中。细小的电线会将该设备直接连接到大脑。
The Neuralink system is currently being tested in pigs, with plans to seek government approval for human testing sometime in the future.
该Neuralink系统目前正在猪身上进行测试，并计划在未来某个时候寻求政府批准进行人体测试。
Neuralink's head surgeon, Dr. Matthew MacDougall, said the company's first human tests would involve a small number of people. The tests would be aimed at treating individuals suffering from paralysis – a condition that makes someone unable to move or feel all or part of their body.
Neuralink公司的首席外科医生马修·麦克道尔博士表示，该公司的首次人体测试会涉及很少数人。这些测试的目的是治疗瘫痪患者，这种疾病会使人无法移动或感知全部或一部分身体。
During the demonstration, Musk showed off a pig named Gertrude. He explained that Gertrude had a Neuralink implant inside its head. The device is meant to record nerve activity in the pig's nose and mouth.
在演示期间，马斯克展示了一头名为格特鲁德的猪。他解释说，格特鲁德的头部置入了一个Neuralink设备。该设备旨在记录这头猪的鼻子和嘴巴的神经活动。
Musk said the company had three pigs, each with two implants. He described the animals as "healthy, happy and indistinguishable from a normal pig." Musk said the company was able to predict with "high accuracy" a pig's leg movement on a running machine using data from the implant.
马斯克表示，该公司有三头猪，每头猪都植入了两个Neuralink设备。他称这些猪健康、快乐，跟普通的猪没有区别。马斯克表示，该公司能够使用植入设备的数据精确预测猪在跑步机上的腿部运动。
Musk used the event to invite engineers and other experts to join the company in developing the technology. He also urged people to develop their own devices and bring them to Neuralink. "You don't need to have brain experience," Musk noted. Those skills can be learned on the job, he said.
马斯克通过此次活动邀请工程师和其他专家加入该公司共同开发这项技术。他还鼓励人们自行开发设备并将其带到Neuralink公司。马斯克表示：“你无需大脑方面的经验。”他说，这些技能可以在工作中学习。
Linking a brain directly to electronics is not new. Doctors implant electrodes in brains to deliver signals to treat conditions such as Parkinson's disease, epilepsy and pain. In experiments, implanted sensors have let paralyzed people use brain signals to operate computers and move robotic arms. In 2016, researchers reported that a man regained some movement in his own hand with a brain implant.
将大脑直接连接到电子设备并不是什么新鲜事。医生将电极植入大脑，以传递信号治疗帕金森病、癫痫以及疼痛等疾病。在实验中，植入式传感器使瘫痪者利用大脑信号来操作计算机和移动机械臂。研究人员在2016年报告称，一名男子通过大脑植入恢复了自己的手部动作。
Musk's Neuralink hopes to one day offer operations to improve brain performance, the Wall Street Journal reported when the company launched.
《华尔街日报》报道称，马斯克的Neuralink公司希望有一天能够提供改善大脑表现的手术。
Musk noted that Neuralink first wants to use the device on people with severe spinal cord injuries to help them talk and move using their brain waves. He said he is hopeful that, in the long term, those people could regain "full-body motion."
马斯克指出，Neuralink公司最初希望把该设备用在严重脊髓损伤的患者身上，帮助他们利用脑电波说话和移动。他说，从长远看，他对这些人恢复全身运动充满希望。
Members of the Neuralink team said they also would like to see the technology permitting the uploading of memories for later use. "Yes, I think in the future you will be able to save and replay memories," Musk said.
Neuralink团队成员表示，他们还希望该技术能够允许上传记忆供以后使用。马斯克表示：“没错，我认为将来你能够保存和恢复记忆。”
Neuroscientists not linked to the company said the presentation suggested Neuralink had made great progress with the technology. However, they warned that many more studies will be needed to test the long-term success of such devices.
与该公司并无关联的神经科学家表示，这次演示表明Neuralink公司在这项技术上取得了长足进展。但是他们警告说，需要进行更多研究来措施这种设备的长期有效性。
I'm Bryan Lynn.
我是布莱恩·琳恩。
Words in This Story
chip – n. an electronic device that contains many circuits used in computers
artificial intelligence – n. the power of a machine to copy intelligent human behavior
implant – v. to place something into someone's body in a medical operation
surgeon – n. a doctor who performs medical operations
indistinguishable – adj. impossible to see or hear as different or separate
accuracy – n. how correct or exact something is
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