Understanding brain signals for better mind-controlled prosthetics
Cortical basis of complex motor sequences in humans for neural interfaces
Researchers will record brain activity from people with severe movement or speech loss to learn how the motor cortex controls complex actions so future brain‑controlled devices feel faster and more natural.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11167558 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will record electrical signals from tiny electrode arrays placed in the motor cortex of people with severe speech and motor impairments at multiple BrainGate clinical sites. Participants will perform complex tasks — including moving combinations of limbs and handwriting-like movements — while researchers map how groups of neurons encode those actions at both coarse and fine scales. The team will combine these human recordings with prior animal data and advanced decoding algorithms to improve how intended movements are translated into commands for prosthetic arms and communication devices. The overall aim is to make intracortical brain‑computer interfaces faster, more precise, and capable of controlling multiple body parts simultaneously.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with severe speech and motor impairment from neurological injury or disease who are willing to undergo surgical placement of intracortical electrode arrays and attend training and testing sessions.
Not a fit: People without severe motor or speech loss, those unwilling or medically unable to undergo brain surgery, or those with conditions that prevent safe implantation are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could make brain‑controlled prosthetics and communication devices faster, more accurate, and able to handle complex movements like handwriting.
How similar studies have performed: Previous BrainGate trials have enabled people with paralysis to control cursors, type at up to about 8 words per minute, and operate consumer devices, and this project builds on that prior success to target more complex movements.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Henderson, Jaimie M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Henderson, Jaimie M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.