A modular strategy for next-generation upper-limb sensory-motor neuroprostheses

Abstract

Neuroprosthetics is a discipline that aims at restoring lost functions to people affected by a variety of neurological disorders or neurotraumatic lesions. It combines the expertise of computer science and electrical, mechanical, and micro/nanotechnology with cellular, molecular, and systems neuroscience. Rapid breakthroughs in the field during the past decade have brought the hope that neuroprostheses can soon become a clinical reality, in particular-as we will detail in this review-for the restoration of hand functions. We argue that any neuroprosthesis relies on a set of hardware and algorithmic building elements that we call the neurotechnological modules (NTs) used for motor decoding, movement restoration, or sensory feedback. We will show how the modular approach is already present in current neuroprosthetic solutions and how we can further exploit it to imagine the next generation of neuroprosthetics for sensory-motor restoration.

Clinical neuroscience and neurotechnology: An amazing symbiosis

“…Sensors embedded in the actuator can provide sensory information to the subjects by stimulating their cortex. From ( Shokur et al., 2021 ). (C) Clinical applications of MEAs for BMIs (left) and associated advancements in the understanding of motor control and sensory processing (right) inside the positive feedback loop.…”

“…Sensors embedded in the actuator can provide sensory information to the subjects by stimulating their cortex. From ( Shokur et al., 2021 ).…”

“…The attempt to develop ever improving BMIs has also improved our understanding of the somatosensory cortex and its functional role in motor control. These findings have resulted in the development of brain-machine-brain interfaces, in which the prostheses have a bidirectional connection with the cortex, for reading motor intentions and eliciting controlled sensations ( Bensmaia et al., 2020 ; Flesher et al., 2021 ; Pandarinath and Bensmaia, 2022 ; Shokur et al., 2021 ). We will discuss these aspects in the next paragraph, together with a glance at the possible future developments.…”

Validation of manifold-based direct control for a brain-to-body neural bypass

“…In BBIs, brain activity recorded from motor cortical areas using invasive [3]- [10] or non-invasive [11], [12] interfaces is translated into motion commands to actuate limbs via electrical stimulation of neuromuscular structures. Thus, BBIs need to tackle two complex neurotechnological modules, i.e., a motor decoding module and a movement restoration module, and their integration [13].…”

Editorial: Getting Neuroprosthetics Out of the Lab: Improving the Human-Machine Interactions to Restore Sensory-Motor Functions

“…A key theme presented throughout this Research Topic has been multidisciplinary collaboration, a theme strongly supported by the editors ( Shokur et al, 2021 ; Karczewski et al, 1102 ). As technologies move from the bench to the bedside, there is an increased need for collaboration between academic researchers and clinicians, as well as industry and government partners and, of course, the patients.…”