2005 – a man with

The History of Brain Machine tetraplegia is able to control

1952 – Jose Delgado a robot arm due to a brain
Implants demonstrates the ability computer interface created
as part of the BrainGate
Key moments of history in the development of to control behaviour
project.
using implanted
brain machine implants. electrodes, by stopping a
charging bull. 2016 – Elon
1874 – Roberts Musk launches
1780 – Luigi Galvani Bartholow experiments 1996 – Neurotrophic Neuralink to
discovers that the with electrical Electrodes are implanted develop ultra
muscles of dead frogs stimulation on the brain in a paralysed man high bandwidth
can be stimulated using of a woman with a hole enabling him to control a brain machine
an electrical spark. in her head. computer cursor. interfaces.

1924 – Hanns Berger 1969 – The first 1997 – Deep 2018 – three
1870 – Edward Hitzig and cochlear implant is Brain people with
uses an EEG to record
Gustav Fritsch cause implanted restoring Stimulation is paraplegia
electrical activity from
muscle movements a sense of sound approved in the are able to
a human brain for the
through the electrical and demonstrating USA as a walk due to
first time.
stimulation of specific the possibilities of treatment for wireless
parts of a dog’s brain neural implants. Parkinson’s spinal
disease. implants.

2012 – BrainGate allows a woman to drink from a

bottle by controlling a robotic arm with her thoughts.
Project Credits
This timeline supports the Illuminating the Self public engagement project exploring
the CANDO research project. In particular the development of the film Deep Mind by
Operating Theatre.

The development of Deep Mind was funded by Wellcome and the Catherine Cookson
Foundation. It was supported by Newcastle University.

For further information visit www.cando.ac.uk/illuminatingtheself

Image Credits
• Galvani-frogs-legs-electricity.jpg Public Domain
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Galvani-frogs-legs-electricity.jpg
• Berger 1st-EEG.jpg Public Domain
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1st-eeg.png
• A bull charges towards Jose Manuel Rodriguez Delgado. Image: Delgado
• Neuralink demonstration. Image: Neuralink