CSNE leader designs tiny fibers that open new windows into the brain

Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering (CSNE) research leader, Dr. Polina Anikeeva, is part of a collaborative team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) who have, for the first time ever, developed flexible fibers that can deliver a combination of optical, electrical and chemical signals back and forth into the brain. The team's research results are reported in a paper published this month in the journal, Nature Neuroscience.

The fibers are designed to mimic the softness and flexibility of brain tissue, which could make it possible to leave implants in place over a longer period of time. With some adjustments to further improve biocompatibility, this new approach to implantable brain-computer interfaces could provide a dramatically improved way to learn about the functions and interconnections of different brain regions. Read the full article in MIT News.

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Polina Anikeeva

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MIT News

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Thursday, February 23, 2017