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This tiny implant sends secret messages to the brain
Northwestern's wireless implant uses up to 64 micro-LEDs for patterned brain stimulation, enabling artificial sensory input that mice can learn to interpret during behavioral tasks.
- On Monday , Northwestern University scientists revealed a wireless skull-mounted implant that transmits patterned light to the brain, generating artificial perceptions mice learned to interpret.
- Because sensations recruit distributed networks, the researchers designed the device to avoid penetrating probes by delivering light through the skull, building on their 2021 single micro-LED system, led by Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy and John A. Rogers.
- Technically, the device contains an array of up to 64 independently programmable micro‑LEDs integrated into a soft, flexible implant with a wirelessly powered control module, and red light penetrates tissues well to activate neurons.
- The team says the device is immediately useful for basic neuroscience researchers and could aid prosthetic limb users, rehabilitation after injury or stroke, and non-pharmacologic pain modulation.
- Looking ahead, the team plans to test more complex patterns, larger arrays and additional wavelengths while addressing translational challenges scaling the system and human testing.
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26 Articles
26 Articles
This tiny implant sends secret messages to the brain
Researchers have built a fully implantable device that sends light-based messages directly to the brain. Mice learned to interpret these artificial patterns as meaningful signals, even without touch, sight, or sound. The system uses up to 64 micro-LEDs to create complex neural patterns that resemble natural sensory activity. It could pave the way for next-generation prosthetics and new therapies.
·United States
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Total News Sources26
Leaning Left3Leaning Right2Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Center
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources are Center
50% Center
L 30%
C 50%
R 20%
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