来源：科技日报 ◎本报记者 张佳欣 近年来，脑机接口技术取得了显著进展。这类技术以埃隆·马斯克旗下的Neuralink公司为代表，通过将 微小电极植入大脑皮层，直接读取神经元电信号，在帮助严重残障人士恢复交流能力方面已展现出实际 成效。一些患者甚至能借助植入设备，在接近实时的状态下"说话"或"唱歌"。 但这种进展的代价同样明显：侵入性手术、高风险，以及设备一旦植入后难以调整等。 与Neuralink的设备相比，这种方法侵入性更小。传感器只需置于颅骨下方，或通过颅骨开设窗口进行操 作，不必深入脑组织内部。 同时，与电极植入位置固定且只能与植入电极的部位连接不同，超声波可监测大脑的很多区域并刺激多 个部位。 "声遗传学"激活特定神经元 正是在这样的背景下，美国一家新成立的初创公司Merge Labs进入公众视野。与主流路线不同，这家公 司试图绕开"深度植入电极"这一核心路径，转而使用超声波来实现对大脑活动的读取与调控。 据英国《自然》杂志介绍，这家公司于今年1月成立，获得了包括OpenAI在内的投资方共计2.52亿美元 的资金支持。公司希望探索一种新型脑机接口技术，不仅用于信息解码，还可能用于治疗抑郁症、成瘾 等 ...

Core Insights - Brain-machine interface technology has made significant advancements, with companies like Neuralink demonstrating the ability to help severely disabled individuals regain communication capabilities through implanted devices [1] - Merge Labs, a newly established startup, aims to develop a non-invasive brain-machine interface using ultrasound technology, which could potentially treat mental and neurological disorders [1][2] Group 1: Company Overview - Merge Labs was founded in January this year and has secured $252 million in funding from investors, including OpenAI [1] - The company is exploring a new type of brain-machine interface technology that could not only decode information but also have therapeutic applications for conditions like depression and addiction [1] Group 2: Technology and Methodology - Traditional brain-machine interfaces rely on electrode arrays that require invasive surgeries, posing risks and uncertainties for long-term recovery [2] - Merge Labs utilizes functional ultrasound, which emits high-frequency sound waves to monitor blood flow changes in the brain, indirectly inferring neuronal activity [2] - This method is less invasive than traditional electrode implantation, as sensors can be placed beneath the skull or through a small opening, allowing for monitoring of multiple brain regions [2] Group 3: Advanced Techniques - Merge Labs is also investigating "sonogenetics," a technique that makes specific neurons more sensitive to ultrasound, enabling precise activation or inhibition of targeted neurons [3][4] - The combination of sonogenetics and ultrasound could lead to more personalized and accurate treatment options for neurological diseases, including potential applications in vision restoration and cancer treatment [4] Group 4: AI Involvement and Ethical Considerations - The significant investment in Merge Labs is closely tied to the involvement of artificial intelligence, which is expected to play a central role in analyzing complex brain signals obtained through ultrasound [5] - However, the integration of AI raises ethical and privacy concerns regarding the handling of sensitive brain data, questioning whether the technology is aimed solely at patient recovery or also at enhancing AI models [6] - There are inherent limitations to functional ultrasound, including a response time lag due to its reliance on blood flow changes, which may hinder real-time applications like speech decoding [6]