Chinese scientists achieve breakthrough in invasive brain-computer interface trial

China has made new progress in invasive brain-computer interface (BCI) tehcnology, achieving complex real-world operations such as mind-controlled wheelchairs.

BCI is categorized into three types: invasive, semi-invasive, and non-invasive. The new progress in the invasive BCI was made by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, in collaboration with Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University and other institutions. A middle-aged man with quadriplegia caused by a cervical spinal cord injury can now steer a wheelchair for a stroll and command a robotic dog to retrieve takeout food using only his thoughts, a major breakthrough by Chinese scientists in clinical trials of invasive BCI technology.

In March, the CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, together with Huashan Hospital, implanted electrodes smaller than 1 percent of the diameter of a human hair into the brain of a patient with motor dysfunction, enabling mind-controlled chess playing and car racing. This was China's first clinical trial of an invasive BCI.

Currently, the second participant in the BCI clinical trial has also successfully undergone implantation, enabling new applications.

Previously, BCI technology was largely limited to "two-dimensional screen" tasks such as cursor control. This time, the research team has advanced beyond that, moving patients from virtual screen interactions to performing "three-dimensional actions" in the real world.

In real world settings, patients controlling wheelchairs with their thoughts must navigate complex, dynamic environments, such as avoiding obstacles and executing emergency stops, with zero tolerance for delay between intention and action.

This demands that external devices like wheelchairs become an integrated extension of the patient's own body. To achieve this, Chinese scientists have overcome multiple core technical challenges in BCI development. First, the team developed neural data compression technology and a hybrid decoding model. Their efficient coordination enhances the overall performance of the brain control system by 15 percent to 20 percent. Second, for stability in interpreting fluctuating signals, the team created a "neural manifold alignment" technique. This ensures the decoder consistently reads the core intent of the neural signals, which are subject to interference from factors like emotional state and environmental changes. Third, to achieve self-evolving capability, the team developed an "online recalibration" technology. Unlike traditional BCI systems that require users to stop for tedious calibration, this new system allows for real-time parameter adjustments during daily use.

Fourth, regarding the synchronization rate from "thought to action," the team reduced the system delay to under 100 milliseconds for controlling external devices.

This is lower than the approximately 200 milliseconds it takes for a normal person's brain command to translate into a physical action.

It is these breakthroughs that have enabled the patient implanted with the latest electrodes to interact with the real world using his thoughts.

The patient now works as an online auditor for vending machine, participating in online data annotation tasks, becoming China's first patient to achieve online employment with the aid of an invasive brain-computer interface system.

Chinese scientists achieve breakthrough in invasive brain-computer interface trial

As young Chinese consumers prepare for the upcoming Spring Festival, they are driving a shift in traditional shopping habits, adding emotional and cultural meaning to their holiday purchases.

Falling on Feb 17 this year, the Spring Festival marks the start of the Chinese New Year and ushers in the Year of the Horse, the seventh animal in the Chinese zodiac.

Buying new clothes has long been part of the cultural customs surrounding Chinese New Year. But among younger shoppers, there is a growing demand for designs that are not only festive but culturally rooted, blending traditional Chinese elements with modern flair. This movement has given rise to a major trend in domestic fashion known as "New Chinese Style."

According to recent industry estimates, China's new Chinese-style fashion market is now valued at approximately 36 billion U.S. dollars, with the Chinese New Year season marking its strongest sales period.

Yang Lingling, founder of Mi Dong Fang, a brand for new Chinese-style clothing said that the visitor flow of the store has been steadily increasing since the first of January.

With the Year of the Horse approaching, items featuring horse motifs -- along with designs carrying auspicious meanings -- are among the best-sellers.

"This piece is called Galloping Horse Welcoming Spring. This one is in festive New Year red. The cuffs feature tiny horses carrying money bags," Yang said.

But the store owner believes the emotional satisfaction of buying New Chinese Style goes beyond simply wishing for good fortune.

"Customers have a deep recognition of traditional Chinese culture," she noted.

This sense of cultural pride is also echoed by designer Li Guanyu. The Year of the Horse cultural and creative products created by him and his team have been well received by younger consumers.

"China is already very strong when these young people were born, so they fully embrace the beautiful aspects of our traditional culture," said Li Guanyu, General Manager of Bushes Culture.

Li says sales of Year of the Horse products are particularly strong compared with previous years, thanks to growing interest among young people in cultural and creative products. And the best-selling products are those that combine traditional elements with playful or fun features.

"For example, this one is inspired by the rocking horse that children play on. We then added traditional Chinese symbols of good luck -- a chubby god of wealth holding a big gold ingot, sitting on the horse," explained Li.

From traditional motifs to creative designs, these products let young shoppers connect with Chinese heritage in a fun and meaningful way -- giving them a strong emotional satisfaction as they express their personality and cultural identity during the Chinese New Year.

Young Chinese consumers add emotional value to Spring Festival shopping