Researchers at The University of Osaka have developed a minimally invasive brain recording technique that uses ultra-thin wire electrodes inserted into cortical and deep cerebral veins via a catheter, achieving high-fidelity recordings comparable to traditional methods.

This innovative approach successfully captures brainwaves from both superficial and deep brain regions in pig models, enabling precise monitoring of brain activity.

The technique also stimulates the motor cortex through these blood vessel-based electrodes, evoking muscle responses in the face and shoulders, demonstrating its potential for functional brain mapping.

By allowing access to deep brain regions non-invasively, this method opens new possibilities for brain monitoring, especially for areas previously difficult to reach without invasive surgery.

Led by Professor Takufumi Yanagisawa and Dr. Takamitsu Iwata, the research was published in the journal Advanced Intelligent Systems, highlighting its potential to revolutionize brain monitoring and stimulation.

This breakthrough could significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions like epilepsy and advance brain-computer interface technology, particularly for individuals with severe paralysis.

Dr. Takamitsu Iwata emphasized that this approach might enhance neurological diagnostics and therapies, offering a less invasive alternative to traditional brain surgery.

The method's ability to detect brainwaves from deep regions and evoke muscle responses demonstrates its broad applicability, including capturing resting-state EEG, somatosensory, and visual evoked potentials.