Researchers announced significant findings from a pilot study conducted in partnership with Precision Neuroscience Corporation at the Society for Neuroscience (SfN) Neuroscience 2024 conference in Chicago, IL.

The study was led by Iahn Cajigas, MD, PhD, a neurosurgeon at Penn Medicine and an assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.

The study, titled ‘Unraveling beta dynamics with a high-density cortical surface array,’ focused on the use of Precision’s Layer 7 Cortical Interface, a minimally invasive device with a high-density array.

This advanced technology enabled the researchers to capture previously unreachable neural patterns in the motor cortex related to movement. The findings could have a significant impact on future neurological treatments, rehabilitation, and the development of brain–computer interfaces (BCIs).

Beta oscillations, rhythmic patterns in the motor cortex associated with movement control, were examined using this high-resolution array, which provided new insights into how the brain encodes movement. This research may lead to improved treatments for patients with paralysis or other movement disorders.

In the study, presented by RESToRe lab member Qasim Qureshi, the Layer 7 Cortical Interface—equipped with 1,024 electrodes—was placed on the motor cortex of a patient receiving Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for essential tremor. While the patient performed hand gestures, high-resolution sensors tracked hand movements, and the Layer 7 array recorded neural activity in real-time.

The device is about the size of a nickel and thinner than a human hair, providing a unique view of the evolution of beta oscillatory behaviours during common hand gestures.

The results showed that beta waves formed spirals at rest and moved in a single direction, likely reflecting resting-state neural dynamics.

However, these waves diminished during active movement and returned in a complex pattern after the movement ended. This pattern may indicate how different areas of the motor cortex are engaged when planning and executing movements, leading to better motor decoding for BCIs.

Precision is dedicated to creating neural implants for medical use, having developed and validated the Layer 7 Cortical Interface through collaborations with institutions such as West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, Penn Medicine, and Mount Sinai Health System in New York.

The company is expected to announce further partnerships with leading research institutions in the upcoming year.




Source: globenewswire.com

Report Abuse