Global Scans · Neuroscience · Weekly Summary

• [New] The study, called GB-PRIME, will test a Brain Computer Interface (BCI). MND Association
• [New] The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone Air will have Macbook Pro levels of graphical power, thanks to new neural processors. TechRadar
• [New] While some potential use cases are still speculative, the technology that will enable them is already in development - and startups like OpenBCI, Neurable, and NextMind (now acquired by Snap Inc.) are experimenting with ways to make brain control intuitive, wearable, and scalable. LEAP:IN
• [New] The EU is projected to spend US$ 1.2 billion for its Human Brain Project, which is similar to China's projected spending, but China far outpaces the EU in the number of patents filed (Global Neuroethics Summit Delegates et al., Reference Rommelfanger, Jeong, Ema, Fukushi, Kasai and Singh2018). Cambridge Core
• [New] As competition for enrolment intensifies, some struggling institutions see IGC's local recruitment as a threat, even calling it a brain drain within Korean territory, since most IGC students are Korean. SRHE Blog
• [New] Artificial neural networks have been utilised to predict the microbial compositions of activated sludge collected from WWTPs globally. Nature
• [New] By 2025, expect VR therapy sessions that feel eerily real, apps detecting PTSD triggers from voice tremors, and neural feedback devices rewiring anxiety patterns. Fitness Cafe 360
• [New] If current trends continue, the U.S. risks undergoing a severe brain drain. Los Angeles Times
• Technologies from Cyberpunk 2077 - from neural interfaces to advanced body modifications - are moving steadily from fantasy to real-life uses in sports training and performance improvement. Female Cricket
• A BCI that can read brain activity could be utilized to detect whether a person is being deceptive during interrogation, while also monitoring other brain states like attention and stress. Cambridge Core
• Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania are developing a digital twin - a virtual replica of a player's brain created from MRI scans - to simulate the effects of impacts and predict long-term cognitive decline. Memesita
• Non-invasive brain health devices that are portable, clinic-ready, and safe will remain the opening to accessibility for the next decade. BusinessLine
• An attacker could hijack a BCI used for neurofeedback therapy and induce harmful brain activity, such as triggering anxiety or seizures in vulnerable individuals. FBI Support Cyber Law Knowledge Base
• A compromised BCI could be exploited to deliver malicious neural inputs. FBI Support Cyber Law Knowledge Base
• While Apple, Meta, and other tech giants are promoting AI-enabled devices such as smartwatches and glasses, the potential for neural networks on wearables remains largely unexplored. Techspot
• Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) computer is based on a new system-on-chip that integrates a CPU, ISP, GPU, and custom neural network accelerators, capable of processing data at rates of up to 2300 frames per second, which is 21 times that of its predecessor. Nature
• Neuralink's surgical robot is designed to insert implants into deeper brain regions, which could be crucial for future human applications. Observer Voice
• The Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk, or US POINTER study, is the largest randomized clinical trial in the United States designed to examine whether lifestyle interventions can protect cognitive function in older adults. CNN

Last updated: 14 September 2025