Neurotech roundup: restoring brain functions with neural interfaces, brain pacemaker to combat addiction, and more
Neuro Rehab Times explores the latest developments in the world of neurotechnology.
Building next-generation brain/neural-machine interfaces for restoration of brain functions
CORDIS – EU research has reported results on research into adaptive neurotech which aims to restore body and brain functions.
NGBMI, which received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, has demonstrated for the first time that brain oscillations can be measured during TES, CORDIS reports, which had involved developing a B/NMI-controlled hand exoskeleton for a person with quadriplegia to regain the mobility needed for daily activities.
CORDIS explained that the system consists of an electrode cap and wireless signal amplifier connected to a tablet computer, running real-time signal processing software that drives external devices, such as exoskeletons or robots, while adjusting TES to the ongoing brain activity.
NGBMI is now preparing for large-scale clinical trials and is pursuing regulatory approval for TIMS and commercialising the brain/neural exoskeleton for stroke rehabilitation.
Brain pacemaker to combat alcohol and opioid addiction
People suffering from severe alcohol and opioid addiction are to be offered a revolutionary new technique involving planting electrodes in the brain to modulate brain activity and cravings and improve self-control, called the Brain-PACER.
The technique – known as deep brain stimulation – will be trialled at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, and King’s College Hospital, London.
Although there have been several proof-of-concept studies that suggest deep brain stimulation (DBS) is effective in addictions, Brain-PACER is the first major, multicentre study to use DBS to treat craving and relapse in severe addiction.
The primary aim of the Brain-PACER study is to assess the effects of DBS to treat alcohol and opioid addiction in a randomised controlled trial study. Its mission is twofold: to develop effective treatments for addiction and to understand the brain mechanisms that drive addiction disorders.
AI model analyses full night of sleep with high accuracy
Researchers have developed a new AI tool, built on the same transformer architecture used by large language models like ChatGPT, to process an entire night’s sleep.
The model, called patch foundational transformer for sleep (PFTSleep), analyses brain waves, muscle activity, heart rate, and breathing patterns to classify sleep stages more effectively than traditional methods, streamlining sleep analysis, reducing variability, and supporting future clinical tools to detect sleep disorders and other health risks.
Current sleep analysis often relies on human experts manually scoring short segments of sleep data or using AI models that are not capable of analyzing a patient’s entire night of sleep.
This new approach, developed using thousands of sleep recordings, takes a more comprehensive view. By training on full-length sleep data, the model can recognise sleep patterns throughout the night and across different populations and settings, offering a standardised and scalable method for sleep research and clinical use, say the investigators.
The Open Brain Institute launches as a not-for-profit organisation
The Open Brain Institute (OBI) has officially launched as a non-profit organisation, transforming neuroscience from the physical to the virtual world. Building on the achievements of the EPFL’s Blue Brain Project, OBI opens the era of simulation neuroscience, empowering researchers to build and simulate digital brains with unprecedented detail, scale, and speed.
AI has been given access to the software recipe to build digital brains, providing natural language support to researchers to explore, build and simulate digital brains, petabytes of brain data collected from global databases, and the world’s cumulative knowledge of the brain and its diseases.
“The Blue Brain Project gave us the proof that the brain can be reconstructed in a computer from limited experimental data,” said professor Henry Markram, founder of OBI, who presented this breakthrough at this year’s World Economic Forum.
“Today, the OBI brings the recipe to build and simulate the brain to empower researchers to explore the brain in unprecedented detail, and at a scale and speed never before imagined.”
UK government calls for regulation on neurotech
The UK has welcomed the Special Rapporteur’s report – a document submitted to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) and the General Assembly (GA) outlining recommendations on specific human rights issues or situations, with the goal of enhancing human rights protection – giving a statement on neurotechnology regulation.
It stated: “The use of neurotechnology poses both opportunities and risks to the protection and promotion of human rights. It is essential we focus efforts on strengthening the application of existing human rights frameworks to the design, development, and use of neurotechnology.
“The UK has data protection regulations which ensure that personal data is processed fairly, lawfully and transparently, with stronger legal protection for the most sensitive information. The UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office, has published a report considering the implications of neurotechnology on data protection.
“This highlighted possible discrimination risks and the importance of ensuring transparency and consent. We will work with the Information Commissioner’s Office to consider whether further protections are required for neurodata under the UK’s data protection regulations.”
UK event to explore future of neurotechnology
Cambridge NeuroWorks is a new programme aiming to accelerate the development of next-generation neurotechnologies.
It is collaborating with with the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA) and key partners across academia, healthcare, and industry, to create a hub for innovations such as electronic brain implants and brain-computer interfaces in order to transform the treatment of conditions such as depression, dementia, chronic pain, epilepsy, and nervous system injuries.
The programme will be holding an event on 25 March, 2025, in Cambridge that will explore the future of neurotechnology.
“Featuring renowned speakers, and thought leaders, the event will provide a platform for cutting-edge discussions, networking, and collaboration. This is a unique opportunity to connect with pioneers in science, healthcare, and technology, shaping the next generation of neuro-innovations,” Cambridge NeuroWorks has stated.
Revelation Neuro established to advance BCI technology
Neurotech company Helius Medical Technologies has announced the establishment of Revelation Neuro, its wholly-owned private subsidiary focused on the development of non-implantable AI powered BCI technology.
Dane Andreeff, Helius president and CEO, said: “We are thrilled to establish Revelation Neuro to pursue the development of a new gold standard of care for personalized neurorehabilitation using a non-implantable AI powered BCI combining our newly developed intellectual property with Helius’ existing IP.
“Our technology relies on its proven ability to modulate known target brain processes and trigger therapeutic responses by using translingual stimulation without risky implantation. We believe Revelation Neuro’s BCI technology will be a unique and less invasive therapeutic option.
“Revelation Neuro is focused on maximising the positive effect of neuromodulation by applying AI to optimize individual response to translingual stimulation. Helius’ extensive dataset, comprised of more than five years of movement dysfunction clinical evidence from over 400 subjects, will serve as the initial foundation for AI algorithm development to which new patient data will then be added to optimise the algorithm and enable a precise and personalised approach to motor function rehabilitation.
“Revolutionary BCI-enabled improvement in functional rehabilitation is the initial focus of Revelation Neuro’s efforts, with the potential in the future to address neurological conditions including cognitive deficit, mood and behavior disorders.”
