Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a groundbreaking neural decoder aimed at restoring communication between the brain and spinal cord, which could significantly enhance rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries.

The research focuses on creating a noninvasive brain-spine interface to aid rehabilitation and facilitate voluntary movement in patients with spinal cord injuries.

Led by Ismael Seáñez and Carolyn Atkinson, the study demonstrated the decoder's ability to cue movement in the lower leg through noninvasive spinal cord stimulation on 17 healthy participants.

During the study, participants wore EEG caps to measure brain signals while performing knee extensions and imagining the same movements, allowing the researchers to analyze brain activity.

The decoder successfully predicts movement intentions based on neural activity, achieving 83% accuracy in detecting actual movements and 77% accuracy for imagined movements.

This technology detects brain wave changes known as 'event-related desynchronization' to trigger spinal stimulation at the appropriate moment for intended movements.

Notably, this system is non-invasive, utilizing external EEG caps and transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, in contrast to traditional invasive brain-computer interfaces that require surgical procedures.

Seáñez highlighted that this innovative approach could be particularly beneficial for individuals with spinal cord injuries, where direct movement is not feasible for data labeling.

Future research will investigate a generalized decoder that could streamline clinical applications by utilizing data from multiple participants, potentially enhancing rehabilitation efforts.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain in achieving effectiveness with natural, self-initiated movements, as current results primarily focus on cued movements.

The implications of this research suggest potential economic benefits through more effective non-invasive treatments, emphasizing the need for updated regulatory frameworks as these technologies evolve.

The market for spinal cord injury rehabilitation technologies is substantial, with approximately 18,000 new cases reported annually in the U.S., and rehabilitation costs can exceed $500,000 in the first year post-injury.

The findings of this study were published on April 25, 2025, in the Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, marking a significant step forward in the field.