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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 1d

cool work! #neuroskyence

Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 4d

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

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.

www.nature.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 4d

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

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.

www.nature.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 4d

awesome work!

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 4d

great work! congrats

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 6d

Awesome work! congrats to the whole team

Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 8d

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

#neuroskyence

Matteo Carandini @carandinilab.net · 8d

Neuropixels Ultra!

By @steinmetzneuro.bsky.social, who led a big collaboration

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Ultra-high-density Neuropixels probes improve detection and identification in neuronal recordings

To understand the neural basis of behavior, it is essential to sensitively and accurately measure neural activity at single-neuron and single-spike re…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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.

Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 9d

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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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 10d

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.

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 10d

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

Michael Beyeler @mbeyeler.bsky.social · 11d

👁️🧠 New preprint: We demonstrate the first data-driven neural control framework for a visual cortical implant in a blind human!

TL;DR Deep learning lets us synthesize efficient stimulation patterns that reliably evoke percepts, outperforming conventional calibration.

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Diagram showing three ways to control brain activity with a visual prosthesis. The goal is to match a desired pattern of brain responses. One method uses a simple one-to-one mapping, another uses an inverse neural network, and a third uses gradient optimization. Each method produces a stimulation pattern, which is tested in both computer simulations and in the brain of a blind participant with an implant. The figure shows that the neural network and gradient methods reproduce the target brain activity more accurately than the simple mapping.

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 12d

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

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…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 12d

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

#neuroskyence #bci #compneurosky

Wolf-Julian Neumann @julianneumann.bsky.social · 14d

New paper in Nature Biomedical Engineering by @timonmerk.bsky.social !

We built a platform that unites AI-based brain signal decoding with connectomics across 123 hours of recordings from 73 patients. A step toward adaptive, network-level neurotechnology.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Invasive neurophysiology and whole brain connectomics for neural decoding in patients with brain implants - Nature Biomedical Engineering

A modularized open-source pipeline for invasive brain signal decoding bridges the gap between closed-loop neuromodulation and clinical brain–computer interface approaches in a large patient cohort.

www.nature.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 20d

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

A neuronal architecture underlying autonomic dysreflexia - Nature

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

www.nature.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 20d

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

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...

www.nature.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 22d

awesome!

Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 24d

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

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....

advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Neuroengineering @neuroengineering.bsky.social · 24d

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

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...

www.nature.com

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