EBS science program to explore brain-computer interface technology

The EBS program 'Science Is My Hobby' will broadcast a special episode on BCI technology at 10:50 PM on October 23, 2026. Featuring Professor Lim Chang-hwan, the show will examine how brain waves can be used to move robotic arms and whether dreams could potentially be recorded as video.

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology, which measures brain waves to identify a user's intentions to move robotic arms or communicate without speaking, will be featured on an EBS science program. EBS 'Science Is My Hobby' will broadcast 'BCI: What happens when we connect the brain and computer?' on EBS 1TV at 10:50 PM on the 23rd. Host Defconn, Duksung Women's University Professor Jung Woo-hyun, Kwangwoon University Professor Jang Hong-je, and science communicator Hangseong will meet Hanyang University Biomedical Engineering Professor Lim Chang-hwan to examine the operating principles and potential applications of BCI. The broadcast will introduce technology that identifies user intentions by analyzing brain waves, cover motor imagery experiments, and discuss the possibility of recording dreams, as well as the debate over free will surrounding brain activity and human choice.

Professor Lim Chang-hwan will explain the principles of BCI, which involves measuring and analyzing brain waves to determine a user's intentions. As a technology that connects the brain to a computer, the program focuses on how computers interpret signals originating from the brain. The host and guests will examine how the technology for reading brain signals leads to the ability to move devices through thought alone. According to the program introduction, key themes include cases of moving robotic arms or communicating without words via BCI.

The cast will attempt 'motor imagery' training, a process of imagining moving one's hands instead of actually moving them. The program captures the cast attempting this training. While science communicator Hangseong shows confidence, Professor Jang Hong-je faces a situation where he cannot imagine the movement despite his efforts.

Exploring BCI through motor imagery experiments

Motor imagery is a method of imagining movement without actually moving the hands. In this broadcast, after receiving an explanation of BCI principles—where the intention to move a hand is identified through brain waves—the cast participates in motor imagery training. Professor Lim introduces the technology that analyzes brain waves to grasp user intentions, and the cast experiences the principle through experimentation. The program highlights that BCI is not merely about reading brain signals, but is a technology that connects user intentions to computer operations.

The experiment reveals differences among participants in their ability to imagine movement. While Hangseong expresses confidence, Professor Jang is shown being unable to imagine the movement no matter how hard he tries. The program uses this to suggest that imagination itself requires training. The composition shows through experimental scenes that even when participants engage in the same type of training, their responses are not identical. The process of challenging motor imagery serves to examine BCI principles by connecting brain waves with intention through the cast's experience.

Can dreams be recorded?

The broadcast questions how far BCI can go beyond identifying brain movements or intentions to read information from the human brain. It also covers whether it might be possible to analyze brain signals to turn dreams into actual video footage for rewatching. The program introduction poses the question of whether recording and rewatching dreams is possible, without separately explaining the current level of technology or methods of implementation. Science communicator Hangseong is the individual who expresses the desire to record dreams and view them on a monitor.

This segment expands the principles of BCI—identifying thoughts and intentions—to the realm of dreams. The program stated it will examine the future possibilities opened by the connection between the brain and computer, alongside the concerns behind them. While asking if recreating dreams as video is possible, it also covers what it means to decode signals sent by the brain. Rather than presenting additional specific technical implementation cases, the broadcast poses questions by linking Hangseong's wish to rewatch dreams with the developmental potential of BCI.

Brain preparation and the debate over human free will

The program's narrative leads to the debate over human free will in BCI technology. It asks whether human choice is truly free if the brain has already prepared for an action before one decides to do something. Using Libet's experiment, which questioned free will, as a starting point, the broadcast introduces the process of scientists presenting different ideas. The composition asks how human choice should be understood while examining the connection between brain activity and behavior.

Professor Jang Hong-je argues, "Humans are ultimately nothing more than matter," to which Hangseong responds that it is difficult to agree. The broadcast asks whether humans are a complex collection of matter or something more, and covers the debate among scientists. This discussion begins with the technology for reading brain signals and identifying intentions, leading to questions about the relationship between brain activity and human choice. Along with the possibilities of BCI, the program introduces the views of scientists regarding free will.

'BCI: What happens when we connect the brain and computer?' of EBS 'Science Is My Hobby' will be broadcast on EBS 1TV on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 10:50 PM. Defconn, Professor Jung Woo-hyun, Professor Jang Hong-je, and Hangseong will meet Professor Lim Chang-hwan to sequentially cover BCI principles, motor imagery experiments, the possibility of recording dreams, and the free will debate.

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