Beginner
Cochlear implant
An implanted device that restores hearing by stimulating the auditory nerve directly. The most successful neural interface to date.
More than a million people use cochlear implants. A microphone picks up sound, a processor splits it into frequency bands, and an electrode in the inner ear stimulates the auditory nerve. Its success is often cited as a model for how BCIs could become routine medicine.
Last updated Sep 30, 2026. Educational content, not medical advice.