Neural Interfaces

In this episode, Davide Valeriani and Theresa Vaughan summarize the main areas in which they foresee neural interfaces will play a pivotal role in the next decades, affecting what we do in our daily lives. RESOURCES A roadmap for the next decades of neural interface development , by Davide Valeriani and Theresa M. Vaughan.

For decades, Brain-Computer Interfaces were confined to high-tech university labs. But what does it take to turn science into a sleek, everyday consumer product that people can use at home? In this episode, we are diving into the origin story of Neurable with his CEO and Co-Founder, Dr. Ramses Alcaide. Founded in 2016 out of the University of Michigan’s Direct Brain Interface Lab, Neurable set out...

How does a cutting-edge brain implant go from a sketch on a whiteboard to a real-world medical device helping patients? The answer lies in the highly complex, often misunderstood world of medical regulation. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the regulatory pathways essential for bringing neurological devices to market with Dr. Carlos Peña. We map out the entire lifecycle of a BCI device...

In previous episodes, we have seen how neural interfaces can restore speech, move robotic limbs, and enhance human capabilities. But as neurotechnology rapidly leaps from the lab to the commercial market, it raises a massive wave of ethical questions that traditional guidelines simply are not equipped to handle. In this episode, Drs. Lilyana Levy and Anna Wexler show how neuroethics tackle these a...

Imagine being fully conscious, fully aware, but trapped inside a body that refuses to speak. This is the reality of locked-in syndrome, where the ability to communicate—our most fundamental human connection—is completely severed. But what if we could bypass the damaged nerves entirely? In this episode, Dr. Prashanth Prakash will describe how we can use implanted microelectrodes to read neural sign...

One of the first applications of neural interfaces has been for restoring motor functions. But how do these systems actually work? In this episode, Drs. Donatella Mattia and Natalie Mrachacz-Kersting explain what is neuroplasticity and how it is leveraged to restore motor capabilities in people with severe disabilities. RESOURCES How to use brain–computer interfaces for motor functional recovery f...

Mind and body are even more linked than we thought. In fact, our physical performance directly depend on the health of our brain. In this episode, we explore with Dr. Camille Jeunet-Kelway how to use neurofeedback to train better and excel in sports and physical activities at large. RESOURCES EEG-neurofeedback as a tool to improve athletic performance , by Camille Jeunet-Kelway, Margaux Izac, Effi...

In this episode, we explore how neural technologies can be used to improve the way we make decisions with Professor Riccardo Poli from the University of Essex. We will also discover how AI and brain-computer interfaces can be combined to make humans and artificial intelligence even better. RESOURCES Improving decision capabilities through brain–computer interfaces , by Riccardo Poli and Caterina C...

Today, we are used of tracking our heart rate, steps, sleep, physical activity, and other biometrics. Tomorrow, we will be able to track our brain activity 24/7. In this episode, we explore with Dr. Marius Klug what we could gain from measuring our brain continuously and build BCIs that work in background to help us with our lives. RESOURCES Passive Brain-Computer Interfaces: Tracking Mental State...

An important field where neural interfaces are applied is neuroergonomics, the study of the brain in everyday settings. This episode presents the main applications of neural interfaces in this field with Prof Hasan Ayaz, a pioneer of the field and main organizer of the Neuroergonomics conference. RESOURCES Harnessing neuroergonomics: integrating wearable neurotechnologies for enhanced human perfor...

In this episode, we discuss how to build a brain-computer interface from scratch with BCI researchers Dr Fabien Lotte, Pauline Dreyer and David Trocellier. Starting from identifying its requirements to what hardware and software is available, we will see the main questions that need to be answered before even writing one line of code (if it is at all required). RESOURCES How to build a brain-compu...

In this episode, Dr. Hussein Alawieh and Satyam Kumar will discuss the importance of training a new type of skill: learning how to operate a brain-machine interface (BMI). Through practice we can help our brain understand how to interact with these novel interfaces and maximise their performance. RESOURCES The importance of training brain–machine interface skills , by Hussein Alawieh, Satyam Kumar...

In this episode, we discuss with Drs. Silvia Kober, Lisa Berger and Sonja Kleih-Dahms what is neurofeedback and its different modalities and applications. Have you ever thought about "seeing" or "hearing" your brain activity? RESOURCES Neurofeedback and how to use it , by Silvia Erika Kober, Lisa Maria Berger, Andrea Kübler 2, Sonja Christina Kleih-Dahms

In this episode, we will explore with Dr. Sylvain Chevallier how to use machine learning to teach neural technologies how to interpret the brain signals they record. RESOURCES From signals to decisions in noninvasive neural technologies , by François Cabestaing and Sylvain Chevallier

In this episode, Dr Marie Constance Corsi and Dr Anaïs Llorens describe the main operations required to analyse brain signals and extract meaningful information from them. Just like when you harvest your produce and you need to wash them before eating them, brain signals require several steps to remove as much noise as possible from them before using them. RESOURCES Signal processing for brain sig...

In this episode, Dr Caterina Cinel describes the main choices that need to be made when deciding to collect brain data from human participants. Think about the task, how many electrodes to use, how many people you need, and so on. RESOURCES Designing a research study with neural interfaces: a brief tutorial by Caterina Cinel

In this episode, Dr Stephanie Cernera presents how we can use electricity to stimulate the brain to enhance/restore its activity, and how brain stimulation is used in clinical settings and beyond. RESOURCES Stimulating the brain: a primer , by Enrico Opri and Stephanie Cernera

In this episode, Dr Davide Valeriani and Theresa Vaughan explore how we can measure brain activity through different techniques, including recording electrical, magnetic and metabolic signals. RESOURCES Recording from the brain: an introduction , by Davide Valeriani and Theresa Vaughan

In this episode, Professor Lisa Gabel from Lafayette College describe how the brain is structured and how it accomplishes all the different things it can do at once. RESOURCES A gentle introduction to the human brain, by Lisa Gabel

In this introductory episode, Dr Davide Valeriani and Theresa Vaughan present what are neural interfaces, how they are classified, and describe the motivation behind the book Neural Interfaces. RESOURCES An approachable guide to Neural Interfaces, by Davide Valeriani and Theresa Vaughan An introduction to Neural Interfaces, by the Royal Society

Neural Interfaces is a podcast exploring the fascinating world of neurotechnologies, and a companion to the Neural Interfaces book edited by Dr. Davide Valeriani and Theresa Vaughan and published by Academic Press. Every episode, we sit down with world-wide experts to deep dive on how neural interfaces work, their main applications, and what's coming next. Neural Interfaces book -> https://...