Researchers have successfully created a fully integrated wireless brain neural signal recorder. This unique technique allows for the real-time recording of brain neural impulses generated by monkeys’ innate behaviors. While also utilizing wireless power transmission and communication without using batteries.
The research team inserted a wireless brain neural recorder into the brain of a non-human primate—specifically. An experimental monkey—effectively collected brain neural signals during natural behaviors, such as eating food or snacking. While the monkey wandered freely for a month. Professor Jang Kyung-in of DGIST’s Department of Robotics and Mechanical Electronics works with a research team led by Lee Young-jeon of the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology.
Traditional brain neural signal recorders are constrained by their dependency on wired connections. That restricts experimental conditions, or the need to restart to replace drained batteries. However, Professor Jang’s team has created the world’s first wireless brain neural signal recorder. That can secretly measure brain neural signals without interfering with non-human primates’ natural behaviors. This recorder uses wireless power transmission and communication, eliminating the need for batteries and physical connections.
The newly developed brain neural signal recorder is part of the brain engineering platform technology. This allows researchers to investigate monkeys’ instinctive behaviors. It makes it easier to study the relationship between brain activity and behavior in non-human primates. That is similar to humans.
Notably, the device contains three-dimensional porous electrodes for precise neural signal monitoring in deep brain areas. A flexible neural probe, and a biodegradable insertion shuttle to ensure safe implantation. This is likely to make significant contributions to our understanding of brain neuronal networks.
The system uses wireless power transmission and communication to provide continuous brain signal recording with little interference. Furthermore, artificial intelligence-based neural signal analysis is used to improve its capabilities.
Professor Jang said
We have developed a technology that can wirelessly measure brain neural signals in a natural state, allowing non-human primates to remain unaware of the neural signal recorder implanted in their brains,”
