---
title: "Scientists Say New Quantum Material Could “‘Download’ Your Brain”"
description: "A new type of quantum material can directly measure neural activity and translate it into electrical signals for a computer."
date: "2019-04-11"
modified: "2019-04-11"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/scientists-quantum-material-download-brain"
categories:
  - "Brain"
  - "Health & Medicine"
tags:
  - "medicine"
  - "neuroscience"
  - "quantum"
  - "the digest"
---

# Scientists Say New Quantum Material Could “‘Download’ Your Brain”

![A new type of quantum material can directly measure neural activity and translate it into electrical signals for a computer.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/scientists-quantum-material-download-brain.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Quince Media via Pixabay/Tag Hartman-Simkins\</em\>*

## Computer Brain

Scientists [say they've developed](<https://scienceblog.com/507236/new-quantum-material-could-warn-of-neurological-disease/>) a new "quantum material" that could one day transfer information [directly from human brains](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/translates-thoughts-gadget-speech.md>) to a computer.

The research is in early stages, but it invokes ideas like uploading brains to the cloud or hooking people up to a computer to track deep health metrics — concepts that until now existed solely in science fiction.

## Quantum Interface

The new quantum material, described in [research published Wednesday](<https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-019-09660-6>) in the journal *Nature Communications*, is a "nickelate lattice" that the scientists say could directly translate the brain's electrochemical signals into electrical activity that could be interpreted by a computer.

"We can confidently say that this material is a potential pathway to building a computing device that would store and transfer memories," Purdue University engineer Shriram Ramanathan [told *ScienceBlog*](<https://scienceblog.com/507236/new-quantum-material-could-warn-of-neurological-disease/>).

## Running Diagnostics

Right now, the new material can only detect the activity of some neurotransmitters — so we can't yet upload a whole brain or anything like that. But if the tech progresses, the researchers hypothesize that it could be used to detect neurological diseases, or perhaps even store memories.

"Imagine putting an electronic device in the brain, so that when natural brain functions start deteriorating, a person could still retrieve memories from that device," Ramanathan said.

**READ MORE:** [New Quantum Material Could Warn Of Neurological Disease](<https://scienceblog.com/507236/new-quantum-material-could-warn-of-neurological-disease/>) \[*ScienceBlog*\]

**More on brain-computer interface:** *[This Neural Implant Accesses Your Brain Through the Jugular Vein](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/noninvasive-neural-implant-clinical-trials.md>)*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)

## More

- [A New Computing Technology Mimics Aspects of Human Thought](<https://futurism.com/a-new-computing-technology-mimics-aspects-of-human-thought.md>)
- [New Brain Implant Could Translate Paralyzed People’s Thoughts Into Speech](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/brain-implant-read-paralyzed-minds-speak-bci.md>)
- [Scientists Say They’ve Discovered a New Quantum Material](<https://futurism.com/scientists-say-theyve-discovered-a-new-quantum-material.md>)
- [New Brain-Computer Interface Doesn’t Even Need to Touch the Brain](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/brain-computer-interface-doesnt-touch-brain.md>)
- [Scientists Have Discovered a New Material That Could be Crucial to Quantum Computers](<https://futurism.com/scientists-have-discovered-a-new-material-that-could-be-crucial-to-quantum-computers.md>)
- [Hacking Intelligence: This Company Wants to Put a Computer in Your Brain](<https://futurism.com/hacking-intelligence-this-company-wants-to-put-a-computer-in-your-brain.md>)
- [Scientists Suggest Our Brains Work Like Quantum Computers](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/brains-work-like-quantum-computers.md>)
- [A Wireless Neural Implant Might Jolt the Brain out of Seizures](<https://futurism.com/neoscope/neural-implant-seizures.md>)