Imagine controlling a robotic arm using just your thoughts. What was once science fiction is now becoming reality thanks to a groundbreaking brain imaging technology out of Caltech. Researchers have developed a minimally invasive method called Functional UltraSound (fUS) that can decode motor plans from the brain for neuroprosthetic devices. This breakthrough utilizes high-frequency sound waves to safely measure changes in blood flow underneath the skull that reflect planning-related brain activity. Compared to traditional brain-machine interface techniques involving electrode implants, fUS provides a balance of performance and practicality that opens doors for restoring movement to paralysis patients. By converting intentions into actions, fUS facilitates an almost telepathic means of robotic control that heralds a new frontier in BMI research.
Researchers at Caltech have developed a breakthrough brain imaging technology called Functional UltraSound (fUS) that can measure brain activity in a minimally invasive way. This method uses high-frequency sound waves to detect changes in blood flow in the brain, which indicates neuronal activity.
Unlike other brain imaging techniques like fMRI and PET, fUS does not require implantation of electrodes or other devices into the brain. It simply measures sound reflections at the skull to infer blood flow changes happening underneath. Only a small surgical opening in the skull is needed to allow the sound waves to reach the brain tissue.
In a recent Nature Neuroscience study, the researchers used fUS to record planning activity from the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) of macaques as they prepared to move their eyes or hands. By decoding these fUS signals, the team created a closed-loop brain-machine interface that allowed the monkeys to control a cursor on a screen using their thoughts only.
This ultrasonic BMI system shows promise as a less invasive and scalable way to read out planning intentions from the brain for neuroprosthetic devices. It could restore function for paralysis patients by converting their planned movements into computer or robotic control.
The researchers next aim to implement fUS for human patients while advancing the technology for 3D imaging and longer-term signal stability. Overall, fUS represents an exciting new frontier in BMI research that balances performance with practicality for clinical use.
More details can be found in the recent Nature Neuroscience paper by Griggs et al. The reference is included below.
Griggs WS, Norman SL, Deffieux T, Segura F, Osmanski B-F, Chau G, . . . Andersen RA (2023) Decoding motor plans using a closed-loop ultrasonic brain–machine interface. Nature Neuroscience. URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01500-7 & https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01500-7.pdf
Researchers at Caltech have developed a breakthrough brain imaging technology called Functional UltraSound (fUS) that can measure brain activity in a minimally invasive way. This method uses high-frequency sound waves to detect changes in blood flow in the brain, which indicates neuronal activity.
Unlike other brain imaging techniques like fMRI and PET, fUS does not require implantation of electrodes or other devices into the brain. It simply measures sound reflections at the skull to infer blood flow changes happening underneath. Only a small surgical opening in the skull is needed to allow the sound waves to reach the brain tissue.
In a recent Nature Neuroscience study, the researchers used fUS to record planning activity from the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) of macaques as they prepared to move their eyes or hands. By decoding these fUS signals, the team created a closed-loop brain-machine interface that allowed the monkeys to control a cursor on a screen using their thoughts only.
This ultrasonic BMI system shows promise as a less invasive and scalable way to read out planning intentions from the brain for neuroprosthetic devices. It could restore function for paralysis patients by converting their planned movements into computer or robotic control.
The researchers next aim to implement fUS for human patients while advancing the technology for 3D imaging and longer-term signal stability. Overall, fUS represents an exciting new frontier in BMI research that balances performance with practicality for clinical use.
More details can be found in the recent Nature Neuroscience paper by Griggs et al. The reference is included below.
Griggs WS, Norman SL, Deffieux T, Segura F, Osmanski B-F, Chau G, . . . Andersen RA (2023) Decoding motor plans using a closed-loop ultrasonic brain–machine interface. Nature Neuroscience. URL: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-023-01500-7 & https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01500-7.pdf