University of Washington

The brain is the world’s most powerful autonomous computer, whose operations remain to be understood and whose functions can be rescued when impaired. The computational capabilities of biological neural networks and silicon computers are complementary and could operate synergistically if directly connected. Recent advances in low-power electronic and biocompatible microfabrication technology will allow the team led by Eberhard Fetz to develop implantable computer systems that interact continuously with the brain. The project will develop and deploy autonomous recurrent brain-computer interfaces (R-BCI) that implement novel interactions between brain sites. By operating continuously, the R-BCI will allow the brain to learn to exploit these new resources to optimize its function. This novel paradigm opens many fundamentally new research directions, depending on the site of recording and stimulation, and the programmable transform between recorded activity and stimulation. The R-BCI also has numerous clinical applications for bridging damaged biological pathways and for strengthening weak neural connections. This project will also create a powerful new multi channel “Keck Active Electrode Array” with integrated electronics to implement minimally invasive recording and stimulation of large numbers of brain sites.