Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development

It is only by recording the activity patterns of large groups of neurons that we can begin to understand how sight, hearing, touch and volitional information are encoded and processed by the brain.  The center for Neural Interface has created a tool that makes this investigation possible. 

The center is focused on the development of technologies that will permit bi-directional (i.e. stimulation and recording) communication with large numbers of neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The center has developed silicon-based arrays of microelectrodes that can either listen in on or talk directly to hundreds of neurons simultaneously. The center has also developed the surgical tools and techniques that allow these high-density arrays to be implanted in central and/or peripheral nervous systems.

The long range goal is to use these neural interfaces as therapies for disorders of the nervous system e.g. limited, but functional sensory restoration in individuals with blindness or deafness, and enhanced motor function to individuals with high spinal cord injuries.

• Bionic Technologies

• Cyberkinetics