In a clinical study, brain implanted stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes were used to evoke sensory percepts in the fingertips of participants.
The research, done at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, has the potential to help millions of people living with paralysis and neuropathy
In a first-in-human study, researchers at The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research elicited the sense of touch through a minimally-invasive electrode brain implant. This research, published recently in Brain Stimulation, has the potential to help millions of people who live with paralysis and neuropathy.
Many illnesses and injuries, including stroke, diabetes or spinal cord injury, can produce loss of touch, which makes everyday movements difficult and takes an emotional toll on patients. Imagine not being able to feel a hot cup or the hand holding yours. Previously, through brain-computer interface (BCI) technology, researchers have been able to electrically stimulate certain (gyral) areas of the brain and restore some sensation to the hand. Through this new research, scientists have successfully shown that stimulation of harder to reach (sulcal) areas of the brain using stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) electrodes can evoke precise sensory percepts in the fingertips.
“From buttoning our shirts to holding a loved one’s hand, our sense of touch may be taken for granted until we lose it,” said the study’s co-principal investigator, Chad Bouton, professor in the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes. “These results show the ability to generate that sensation, even after it is lost, which may lead us to a clinical option in the future.”
Through a minimally invasive procedure led by neurosurgeon, associate professor in the Institute of Bioelectronic Medicine at the Feinstein Institutes and co-principal investigator on the study, Ashesh Mehta, MD, two patients were implanted with the SEEG electrodes in the sulci (grooves) of the brain. While providing electrical stimulation the study participants reported feelings of “tingling” or “sensation of electricity” localized to the hand and fingertips.
Restoring function with bioelectronic medicine
The Feinstein Institutes is the global scientific home of bioelectronic medicine, a field of research that combines molecular medicine, neuroscience and biomedical engineering to develop innovative therapies with the aim to treat diseases and conditions through targeted stimulation of nerves, including paralysis, arthritis, pulmonary hypertension and inflammatory bowel disease.
“Advances in artificial intelligence, brain electrodes and bioelectronic medicine hold significant promise for patients after spinal cord injury or stroke,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes. “This remarkable study indicates bioelectronic medicine and neurosurgery could restore functions previously lost in these conditions.”
To research the brain’s response, the same electrodes used for stimulation were also used to record neural signals during mechanical stimulation of the hand. This process has allowed researchers to deepen the current knowledge of neural circuitry involved in processing touch-related sensations in the human brain, noted Santosh Chandrasekaran, PhD, investigator in the study and co-lead author on the paper with colleague Stephan Bickel, MD, PhD, also an investigator in the published study.
Original Article: Researchers evoke sense of touch through brain implant electrodes
More from: Feinstein Institute for Medical Research
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Bioelectronic medicine
- Scientists at Feinstein Institutes find ultrasound neuromodulation promises to treat pulmonary hypertension
Scientists at Feinstein Institutes find ultrasound neuromodulation promises to treat pulmonary hypertension: Manhasset, New York Thursday, May 9, 2024, 16:00 Hrs [IST] Bioelectron ...
- Tivic Health Announces Pricing of $4.0 Million Public Offering
Tivic Health ® Systems, Inc. ("Tivic", Nasdaq: TIVC), a health tech company that develops and commercializes bioelectronic medicine, today announced the pricing of its public offering of an aggregate ...
- electroCore Announces First Quarter 2024 Financial Results
Record first quarter 2024 net sales of $5.4 million, an increase of 96% over first quarter 2023Company to host a conference call and webcast ...
- Fundamentals of Particle Physics
Modern biophysical view of electromagnetic processes of the phenomenon of life of living biological systems as a promising basis for the development of complex medicine: towards the concept of ...
- How Early Islamic Science Advanced Medicine
Their reputation was well deserved, for the study and practice of medicine was then led by Muslim societies across their immense territory, which extended from modern-day southern Spain to Iran.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Bioelectronic medicine
[google_news title=”” keyword=”bioelectronic medicine” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Restoring a sense of touch
- Pierre Poilievre and the Politics of Intimidation
Don’t let anyone tell you that this is simply a reflection of the frustration of “working class” people who feel they are being disregarded by entitled and out-of-touch “elites ... behind it come from ...
- V Rising 1.0 review: one of the slickest survival games gets even slicker
V Rising's 1.0 update further streamlines and bolsters an already smooth survival game, making it one of the best survival games out there.
- Mayo candidate wants to restore 'common sense' to local council chamber
The 32-year-old family business owner of Geraghty Fuels, along with his father Paraic, is a die-in-the-wool Castlebar native and he is keen to restore some ‘common sense’ back into Mayo County Council ...
- Israel – Hamas war: Resentment, anger, and atonement
Life and death come close to each other, even if they do not touch. Like gold with traces ... and kidnapping. The sense of an ordered and predictable world was shattered. Torture and rape ...
- Everyone deserves a second chance
I have had the honor of meeting many neighbors who have experienced these realities, and I have seen the power of a second chance to find work, restore a sense ... have kept in touch with Gavin ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Restoring a sense of touch
[google_news title=”” keyword=”restoring a sense of touch” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]