Ye Yifei, Tian Ye, Liu Haifeng, Liu Jiaxuan, Zhou Cunkai, Xu Chengjian, Zhou Ting, Nie Yanyan, Wu Yu, Qin Lunming, Zhou Zhitao, Wei Xiaoling, Zhao Jianlong, Wang Zhenyu, Li Meng, Tao Tiger H, Sun Liuyang
2020 X-Lab Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China.
School of Graduate Study University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China.
Exploration (Beijing). 2025 Apr 17;5(4):e70040. doi: 10.1002/EXP.70040. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Neuromodulation is crucial for advancing neuroscience and treating neurological disorders. However, traditional methods using rigid electrodes have been limited by large stimulating currents, low precision, and the risk of tissue damage. In this work, we developed a biocompatible ultraflexible electrode array that allows for both neural recording of spike firings and low-threshold, high-precision stimulation for neuromodulation. Specifically, mouse turning behavior can be effectively induced with approximately five microamperes of stimulating current, which is significantly lower than that required by conventional rigid electrodes. The array's densely packed microelectrodes enable highly selective stimulation, allowing precise targeting of specific brain areas critical for turning behavior. This low-current, targeted stimulation approach helps maintain the health of both neurons and electrodes, as evidenced by stable neural recordings after extended stimulations. Systematic validations have confirmed the durability and biocompatibility of the electrodes. Moreover, we extended the flexible electrode array to a brain-to-brain interface system that allows human brain signals to directly control mouse behavior. Using advanced decoding methods, a single individual can issue eight commands to simultaneously control the behaviors of two mice. This study underscores the effectiveness of the flexible electrode array in neuromodulation, opening new avenues for interspecies communication and potential neuromodulation applications.
神经调节对于推动神经科学发展和治疗神经疾病至关重要。然而，使用刚性电极的传统方法受到大刺激电流、低精度以及组织损伤风险的限制。在这项工作中，我们开发了一种生物相容性超柔性电极阵列，它既能够记录神经元放电，又能进行低阈值、高精度的神经调节刺激。具体而言，用大约五微安的刺激电流就能有效诱发小鼠的转向行为，这比传统刚性电极所需的电流要低得多。该阵列密集排列的微电极能够实现高度选择性刺激，从而精确靶向对转向行为至关重要的特定脑区。这种低电流、靶向刺激方法有助于维持神经元和电极的健康，长时间刺激后的稳定神经记录证明了这一点。系统验证证实了电极的耐用性和生物相容性。此外，我们将柔性电极阵列扩展到了脑对脑接口系统，使人类大脑信号能够直接控制小鼠行为。通过先进的解码方法，一个人可以发出八个指令同时控制两只小鼠的行为。这项研究强调了柔性电极阵列在神经调节中的有效性，为种间通信和潜在的神经调节应用开辟了新途径。
