Neuroengineering

cool work! #neuroskyence

Minimally invasive implantation of scalable high-density cortical microelectrode arrays for multimodal neural decoding and stimulation - Nature Biomedical Engineering A 1,024-channel microelectrode array is delivered to the brain cortex via a minimally invasive incision in the skull and dura, and allows recording, stimulation and neural decoding across large portions of the brain in porcine models and human neurosurgical patients.

Precision Neuroscience published their high-density ECoG in Nature Biomed. Eng.

The startup shows a 1,024-channel grid implanted through a cortical slit in pigs, and intraoperative neural recordings and stimulation in five humans at sub-mm resolution.

#neuroskyence @precisionneuro.bsky.social

Transfer learning via distributed brain recordings enables reliable speech decoding - Nature Communications Speech brain-computer interfaces face challenges scaling across individuals with different brain organization. Using minimally invasive recordings from 25 patients, the authors developed transfer learning methods that enable robust speech decoding even with incomplete brain coverage.

Can we combine neural data across individuals to improve speech BCIs?

A recent study used transfer learning on distributed iEEG recordings to enhance speech decoding. By learning shared latent manifolds, their cross-subject model outperformed individual models in a speech motor task.

#neuroskyence

awesome work!

great work! congrats

Awesome work! congrats to the whole team

Neuropixel's newest ultra-high density probe enables larger neuronal yield (up to 2x), with over 6000 recording channels.

#neuroskyence

With all that said, we agree the system can (and should) improve. But stopping research until ethics are "settled" isn't the answer.

We need stronger safeguards (independent ethics, transparency, global dialogue) while enabling responsible innovation. Unfortunately, there is no single solution.

Which brings us to the current solution of local ethical committees and approvals for any research to be conducted at all. This study, for example, was approved by the Elche ethics committee, registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02983370), and conducted under EU clinical trial regulations.

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We simply wouldn't have enough ethicists to resolve all open questions, assuming they could even agree on global standards across so many cultures and values. And even if they did, there are no enforcement bodies to make such standards *global* and ensure they are followed by *everyone*.

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What you propose would only work with a *worldwide* halt on *all* neurotech research, which seems impossible with so many parties involved.

And if that logic applies, why not halt every other field too? That would create countless ethical questions, far too many to handle.

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With neurotech it's even harder and more delicate: beyond the risk of misuse, the ethical requirements themselves are unclear.

For example, technologies that might alter or decode memory raise questions we can't yet define, because we don't know what is scientifically possible.

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Otherwise we would never have dynamites (or any technology for that matter) since all can be misused depending on who uses it.

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So halting research postponed the benefit of using dynamites to open tunnels for many people.

One could argue it also postponed people being killed by dynamites. But if we accept dynamite as a necessary technology for progress and wellbeing, then we have to accept both its pros and cons.

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Take dynamite: once its feasibility was shown, should research have stopped until ethics were agreed?

Say, after long debate we decide that dynamites should only be used for mines and not for killing. That still doesn't prevent its misuse later.

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We don't think stopping research until all ethics are settled is practicable. We share your concern. Ethics is crucial, but often broad and only becomes concrete as technical details emerge through research. Since every technology is double edged, there's never a simple right or wrong.

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Exactly! (Unfortunately) that's the double-edged nature of technological progress. With neurotechnologies in particular we need to prioritize human-centered design that safeguards autonomy, while placing neuroethics and neurorights at the heart of innovation.

Optimizing stimulation patterns for visual implants 👁️ Check out @mbeyeler.bsky.social's recent study on using spiking activity to adapt stimulation parameters for more stable and reliable perception

#neuroskyence #bci

Intracortical Microstimulation Induces Rapid Microglia Process Convergence Intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) has the potential to restore vision and hearing by stimulating relevant cortical regions in both animals and hum…

How does intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) affect the brain?

ICMS affects both vascular and immune responses. Higher currents increase blood-brain barrier leakage, letting substances enter surrounding tissue. Soon after, microglia activate and cluster around highly active regions

#neuroskyence

Better neural decoding using connectomics and emotional states? Check out @julianneumann.bsky.social newest study in Nature Biomed. Eng!

#neuroskyence #bci #compneurosky

A neuronal architecture underlying autonomic dysreflexia - Nature The neuronal architecture that develops after spinal cord injury and causes autonomic dysreflexia is uncovered.

How does the body regulate blood pressure after SCI?

Scientists mapped the precise nerve circuits causing dangerous spikes in mice, rats, and humans. By stimulating these circuits with epidural electrical stimulation, they activated a competing pathway that stabilized blood pressure.

#neuroskyence

An implantable system to restore hemodynamic stability after spinal cord injury - Nature Medicine A purpose-built implantable system based on biomimetic epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord reduces the severity of hypotensive complications in people with spinal cord injury and improv...

Blood pressure control after SCI has been challenging — until now.

Swiss and Canadian researchers developed an implantable system that epidurally stimulates three thoracic segments, triggering a strong pressor response and rapidly reducing hypotensive symptoms.

#neuroskyence #sci #onward

awesome!

Microendovascular Neural Recording from Cortical and Deep Vessels with High Precision and Minimal Invasiveness Intravascular electroencephalography (ivEEG) using micro-intravascular electrodes was developed. Cortical-vein ivEEG showed a higher signal-to-noise ratio and finer spatial resolution of somatosensor....

How far can intravascular electrodes reach?

Scientists miniaturized stentrode-like electrodes to access small, deep cortical veins. Their probe goes beyond large vessels used by Synchron, enabling recordings from hand and speech regions with ECoG-level quality.

#neuroskyence #bci #synchron

Ultrasound system for precise neuromodulation of human deep brain circuits - Nature Communications Modulating deep brain structure can lead to therapies for neurological conditions. Here, the authors show a transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) system featuring a 256-element helmet-shaped trans...

Might focused ultrasound one day replace DBS?

UK Scientists built a 256-panel focused ultrasound helmet that can precisely target deep brain regions. Using theta-burst TUS, they stimulated the LGN and found visual cortex activity with effects lasting up to 40 minutes.

#neuroskyence #ultrasound

#neuroskyence

Neuralink’s Bid to Trademark ‘Telepathy’ and ‘Telekinesis’ Faces Legal Issues The brain implant company cofounded by Elon Musk filed to trademark the product names Telepathy and Telekinesis. But it turns out that another person had already filed to trademark those names.

Neuralink update 🧠

• 2 new patients implanted in Canada, marking first trials outside the US
• US patent office rejects ‘telepathy’ and ‘telekinesis’ trademarks, as they were previously claimed by a lucid dreaming startup

#neuroskyence #bci #neuralink