Minimally invasive cortical neuroelectronics

Abstract

Brain surgeries required to interface with neurons in vivo are inherently high-risk and typically not repeatable. Although traditional neural implants often perform well initially, more than 50% fail within months to years due to brain micromovement, inflammatory responses, and material degradation. To address these limitations, this talk focuses on the development of ultra-flexible implants and novel implantation strategies that enable polymeric electronics to be assembled directly within neural tissue. Embedding electronic circuits in the brain allows chronic recordings from consistent neuronal populations, providing critical insight into how neural networks evolve, adapt, or deteriorate over time. We test these platforms in the context of visual prosthetics to achieve stable recording and stimulation of visual pathways, enabling reliable modulation of neural activity over extended periods. This work advances long-term mapping of sensory circuits, uncovers mechanisms of plasticity and reorganization, and supports the development of minimally invasive tools for studying brain function in both health and disease.