2024-09-12 06:48:22
Scientists have created a neural implant that sits on the surface of the brain but provides information about activity deeper within, avoiding the serious problems that often occur with implants that physically reach deeper into the brain.
The breakthrough is the work of a team comprising, among others, Mehrdad Ramezani and Duygu Kuzum, from the University of California in San Diego, United States.
The new implant consists of a thin, transparent, flexible polymer strip containing a dense array of graphene electrodes. The technology, tested in transgenic mice, is a key step towards building a minimally invasive brain-machine interface suitable for continued use in humans that provides high-resolution data on deep neural activity using brain surface measurements.
This technology expands the spatial scope of neural recordings. Although the implant rests on the surface of the brain, its design allows it to interpret signals on the surface to deduce neural activity in deeper layers.
The new design overcomes the limitations of current neural implant technologies. Existing surface electrode arrays, for example, are minimally invasive but lack the ability to capture information deeper into the brain’s outer layers. In contrast, electrode arrays with fine needles that penetrate the brain are able to probe deeper layers, but they often cause inflammation and scarring, compromising signal quality over time and potentially causing serious health problems for the wearer.
The new neural implant offers the best of both worlds, so to speak.
Source: NCYT by Amazings