New Brain Implant Technology Expands Potential Applications

Friday - January 12 2024, 12:03 UTC - 10 months ago

A new brain implant technology tested in mice uses graphene electrodes and machine learning to accurately read neural activity deep within the brain. This non-invasive approach has the potential to greatly expand the applications of brain implantation and improve our understanding of the brain.

Brain implants have revolutionized the field of neuroscience, allowing us to gain insight into the inner workings of the brain. However, current technology comes with limitations such as invasive surgeries and potential signal degradation over time. A new brain implant technology, recently tested in mice, has the potential to address these issues and greatly expand the applications of brain implantation .

Traditional approaches to reading neural activity include functional MRI and EEG, which provide minimally invasive options but have limited accuracy. Deep brain implants, while providing the highest quality readouts, are often associated with risk and potential signal degradation due to scarring and shifting of the electrodes. Surface brain implants, on the other hand, are less risky but typically only allow for readings of activity from outer brain layers .

Now, a team of researchers has developed a thin, transparent surface-based implant with graphene electrodes that can accurately read neural activity from deep within the brain. This is made possible by the use of machine learning, which uncovers relationships between signals in outer and inner brain layers.The implant itself consists of a thin polymer strip embedded with a dense array of tiny graphene electrodes and connected by ultra-thin graphene wires to a circuit board .

To overcome the challenge of shrinking the electrodes to a size of only 20 micrometers, the researchers used a unique fabrication technique involving platinum particles to boost electron flow.In addition to their size, both the electrodes and polymer strip are transparent, allowing for laser light to pass through and image cells deeper in the brain. This revolutionary feature makes it possible to simultaneously record electrically from the surface and optically from deeper brain regions .

Through recordings in mice, the team discovered a correlation between activity in outer and inner brain layers, prompting them to test if machine learning could predict one from the other. The results were impressive, with the artificial neural network accurately predicting activity in deep brain regions.This new brain implant technology has the potential to greatly improve our understanding of the brain and its functions .

With its non-invasive nature and use of graphene electrodes and machine learning, it addresses several limitations of current brain implant technology. Further research and testing could potentially pave the way for safer and more effective brain implantation in humans.