Lampert, F.

Abstract For implantable closed loop neuromodulation systems, real-time neural sensing, biomarker detection, and targeted stimulation are essential components for delivering personalized therapy. Current limitations in sampling rate and the number of available recording channels in implantable systems may pose significant challenges, especially in epilepsy research where high-frequency biomarkers and multi-site monitoring are essential. The Brain Interchange (BIC) system of CorTec is an externally powered, wireless implantable system that enables sensing and stimulation up to 32 channels at 1 kHz addressing the current limitations in the field. In this study, we present a modular closed loop neuromodulation environment developed for the BIC, enabling real-time data streaming, event detection, and flexible stimulation control. The framework integrates a Simulink-based processing pipeline, real-time communication, and a graphical user interface supporting both open and closed loop paradigms. System performance was evaluated through impedance measurement, latency assessment across three stimulation modes, and real-time closed loop stimulation using electrocardiogram (ECG) for in-lab demonstration. This modular environment provides a flexible platform for developing and validating neuromodulation algorithms and can be extended to incorporate advanced biomarker detection and multi-channel neural interfaces for future clinical research.

Abstract Studying mammalian brain function aids our understanding of human brain evolution. We implanted a beagle with a prototype human neuromodulation platform that measures activity from the brain surface. One year later, a set of simple sensory tasks was performed, finding visual and somatosensory representation in the canine homologs of the expected areas in humans. Surprisingly, the canine anterior ectosylvian gyrus, which is anatomically homologous to human receptive speech areas, was selectively active during independent social reinforcement tasks. This suggests that human speech understanding may have evolved from more general mammalian brain structures that are specialized for social reinforcement.