Applications and interrelationships of brain function detection, brain-computer interfaces, and brain stimulation: a...

Brain-Computer Interface (BCI), Brain Function Detection (BFD), and Brain Stimulation (BS) are three pivotal technological domains in neuroscience and neuroengineering. Each plays a critical role in fundamental research, clinical applications, and human-computer interaction paradigms. Despite their distinct developmental pathways and application focuses, these technologies are frequently conflated or ambiguously referenced in both academic discourse and industrial practice, potentially leading to conceptual misinterpretations, suboptimal system designs, and clinical misapplications. Prior literature reviews have predominantly concentrated on BCI as a standalone subject, covering its historical evolution, specific neurophysiological signal modalities, or emergent technological trends. This manuscript's core contribution is critiquing the overuse of "passive BCI" (labeling feedback-absent monitoring as BCI). Through an application-oriented lens, it clarifies boundaries between BCI, BFD, and BS to resolve conceptual confusion. Further, the review interrogates the convergences and divergences among these modalities and critically evaluates the practical feasibility and challenges associated with their integrative deployment in clinical and experimental settings. Ultimately, this work aspires to provide a lucid, systematic, and conceptually coherent framework to support neuroscientific novices, interdisciplinary investigators, and clinical practitioners. By fostering precise comprehension and judicious utilization of BCI, BFD, and BS, it aims to propel their standardized advancement and enhance their translational impact across both research and clinical domains.