Brain-computer interface technology is a direct pathway for communication between the human brain and an external device.[1] BCI allows for bidirectional information flow unlike neuromodulation, which is the alteration of nerve activity through targeted delivery of a stimulus.[2] BCIs are often directed at researching, mapping, assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions.

A brain–computer interface (BCI) also known as

• neural-control interface (NCI)
• mind-machine interface (MMI)
• direct neural interface (DNI)
• brain–machine interface (BMI)

 

 

 

 

 

In the Alien universe, this trope[3] is used in Alien The Cold Forge by Dr Blue Marsalis. As she suffers from a severe illness the use of her telepresence robot is the only way she can conduct her experiments. A variation on the BDI is the Neuro Visor in Prometheus which Sci-fi Interfaces has covered.

References

1. Krucoff, Max O.; Rahimpour, Shervin; Slutzky, Marc W.; Edgerton, V. Reggie; Turner, Dennis A. (2016-01-01). “Enhancing Nervous System Recovery through Neurobiologics, Neural Interface Training, and Neurorehabilitation”. Neuroprosthetics. 10: 584. doi:10.3389/fnins.2016.00584. PMC 5186786 . PMID 28082858
2. “International Neuromodulation Society home page”. 
3. T.V. Tropes Neural Interface