Imagine being able to “listen” to a symphony concert performed by neurons. That's what NeuralMatrix, developed by the team of Professor Jonathan Viventi to the dukeuniversity, is starting to make it possible. This device is not just a technological upgrade: it is a paradigm shift. With 1008 multiplexed electrodes captures brain activity with unprecedented resolution.
“The challenge was not simply to add more sensors, but to integrate them in a way that the brain would not reject them,” explains Viventi in the published study su Science Translational Medicine in 2020. The secret? A silicon dioxide coating (t-SiO₂) 3 microns thick, which protects against attacks by biological fluids. Result: 6 years of stable operation in tests on primates, compared to 18 months for previous devices.
But there’s more. Integrated electronics reduce the number of cables to less than 100, eliminating the tangle of connections that limited traditional systems. It's like going from a rotary phone to a smartphone.
Neural Matrix, from theory to practice: the tests that amaze
In 2023, Neural Matrix made headlines in an experiment on rats. Connected to the visual cortex, it recorded specific patterns when animals recognized geometric shapes. “We identified neural signatures corresponding to circles and squares with 92% accuracy”, reveals the report of Science Corp.
Now, the tests are moving to primates. In a study cited by Biomedical Engineering, macaques with implants have controlled robotic arms using only their thoughts, with a 50 millisecond delay – almost in real time. Low latency, in particular, is crucial for clinical applications..
And the prospects? The team aims to 65.000 electrodes by 2026. Numbers that make your head spin: “With that density, we could map entire neural networks involved in diseases like Alzheimer's.”, Viventi anticipates.
Design that defies biology
What makes Neural Matrix different from other implants? Three key innovations:
- Spatial multiplexingThe electrodes are arranged in a matrix, like the pixels of a camera, to cover larger areas of the brain.
- Self-powered electronics: Harnesses body heat to reduce reliance on external batteries
- Hybrid materials: Flexible silicon combined with carbon nanotubes, to resist brain movements
“We took inspiration from the laminin, a protein that guides neural growth,” explains Emily Sato, co-author of the study on Matrix Science Blog. The reference is to the synthetic peptide SCR127, used to promote cell adhesion to sensors.
In summary, the device integrates with the nervous tissue without causing inflammation. “After 6 months, we did not detect significant gliosis”, confirm the data of PubMed.
Towards clinical applications (and beyond)
The implications go beyond research. Neural Matrix could:
- Revolutionizing Neural Prosthetics: It would allow paralyzed patients to control external devices with sub-millimeter precision
- Monitor epilepsy in real time: Detecting seizure onset 30 seconds before symptoms
- Mapping the effects of drugs: Studying How New Molecules Affect Brain Activity
“We are collaborating with theETH Zürich to adapt it for deep brain stimulation in Parkinson's,” Viventi announces. But there are also those who dream big: Elon Musk tweeted that “Neuralink will learn from these innovations.”
Neural Matrix, open questions and future challenges
Despite progress, obstacles remain. The cost is one: each prototype is worth over 500.000 dollars. Then, the scalability: implanting 65.000 electrodes will require minimally invasive surgical techniques that do not yet exist.
And ethics? We must prevent these technologies from creating inequalities. Bioethicists rightly wonder who will have access to these technologies, and How will we protect neural data?, which are the essence of our identity.
Meanwhile, Neural Matrix continues to evolve. The next version will integrate a microfluidic cooling system, to manage the heat generated by the electrodes. The race to connect brains and machines has just begun.