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Bibliography on: Brain-Computer Interface

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ESP: PubMed Auto Bibliography 07 Sep 2025 at 01:38 Created: 

Brain-Computer Interface

Wikipedia: A brain–computer interface (BCI), sometimes called a neural control interface (NCI), mind–machine interface (MMI), direct neural interface (DNI), or brain–machine interface (BMI), is a direct communication pathway between an enhanced or wired brain and an external device. BCIs are often directed at researching, mapping, assisting, augmenting, or repairing human cognitive or sensory-motor functions. Research on BCIs began in the 1970s at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) under a grant from the National Science Foundation, followed by a contract from DARPA. The papers published after this research also mark the first appearance of the expression brain–computer interface in scientific literature. BCI-effected sensory input: Due to the cortical plasticity of the brain, signals from implanted prostheses can, after adaptation, be handled by the brain like natural sensor or effector channels. Following years of animal experimentation, the first neuroprosthetic devices implanted in humans appeared in the mid-1990s. BCI-effected motor output: When artificial intelligence is used to decode neural activity, then send that decoded information to some kind of effector device, BCIs have the potential to restore communication to people who have lost the ability to move or speak. To date, the focus has largely been on motor skills such as reaching or grasping. However, in May of 2021 a study showed that an AI/BCI system could be use to translate thoughts about handwriting into the output of legible characters at a usable rate (90 characters per minute with 94% accuracy).

Created with PubMed® Query: (bci OR (brain-computer OR brain-machine OR mind-machine OR neural-control interface) NOT 26799652[PMID] ) NOT pmcbook NOT ispreviousversion

Citations The Papers (from PubMed®)

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RevDate: 2025-09-06

Balam VP (2025)

Automated EEG Signal Processing: A Comprehensive Investigation into Preprocessing Techniques and Sub-Band Extraction for Enhanced Brain-Computer Interface Applications.

Journal of neuroscience methods pii:S0165-0270(25)00205-5 [Epub ahead of print].

The Electroencephalogram (EEG) is a vital physiological signal for monitoring brain activity and understanding neurological capacities, disabilities, and cognitive processes. Analyzing and classifying EEG signals are key to assessing an individual's reactions to various stimuli. Manual EEG analysis is time-consuming and labor-intensive, necessitating automated tools for efficiency. Machine learning techniques often rely on preprocessing and segmentation methods to integrate automated classification into EEG signal processing, with EEG sub-band components (δ, θ, α, β and γ) playing a crucial role. This paper presents a comprehensive exploration of EEG preprocessing methods, with a specific focus on sub-band extraction techniques used in Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) applications. Various methods-including Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), Short-Time Fourier Transform (STFT), Finite Impulse Response (FIR) and Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filters, and wavelet transforms (DWT, WPT)-are evaluated through qualitative and quantitative parametric analysis, along with a review of their practical applicability. The study also includes an application-based evaluation using an open-access EEG dataset for drowsiness detection.

RevDate: 2025-09-06

Zheng L, Su Y, Li S, et al (2025)

Injectable multifunctional sponges with rough sieve structure and efficient shape-recoverability for small-sized penetrating wound.

Journal of colloid and interface science, 702(Pt 1):138896 pii:S0021-9797(25)02288-X [Epub ahead of print].

The emergence of special scenarios involving small-sized penetrating wounds has imposed stricter performance requirements on shape-recovery hemostatic materials, particularly regarding their shape fixity and water-triggered shape recovery efficiency. Herein, an efficient shape-recovery sponge dressing with high shape fixity and high-speed liquid absorption, designated as CQT, was developed by integrating a sieve structure with the rough surface coating. The sieve structure, characterized by microporous structures on macroporous walls, enhanced the multi-level and connectivity of the overall pore network, which could improve compressive fixity via enhancing the energy dissipation required for rebound and enabled efficient shape recovery through augmented capillary action during fluid absorption. Concurrently, the enhanced pore connectivity promoted rapid blood absorption (<0.5 s), expanded interfacial contact between blood and hydrophilic pore walls, and improved interception of blood active components, while the rough coating on the pore walls provided more binding sites along with its charge effect to enhance the adhesion and aggregation of blood cells (BCI of 7.8 %). The excellent in vivo hemostatic performance of the sponge (blood loss of 0.31 g and hemostasis time of 63 s) was further validated using a rat liver defect model, suggesting its potential for application in small-sized penetrating wounds. Additionally, this coating has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties that help to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. Thus, the unique sponge dressings possess excellent initial shape adaptability and efficient expansion hemostatic ability, making it very suitable for emergency hemostasis and subsequent repair of small-sized penetrating wounds.

RevDate: 2025-09-06

Verwoert M, Ottenhoff MC, Tousseyn S, et al (2025)

Moving beyond the motor cortex: A brain-wide evaluation of target locations for intracranial speech neuroprostheses.

Cell reports, 44(9):116241 pii:S2211-1247(25)01012-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Speech brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) offer a solution for those affected by speech impairments by decoding brain activity into speech. Current neuroprosthetics focus on the motor cortex, which might not be suitable for all patient populations. We investigate potential alternative targets for a speech BCI across a brain-wide distribution. Thirty participants are recorded with intracranial electroencephalography during speech production. We continuously predict speech from a brain-wide global to a single-channel local scale, across anatomical features. We find significant speech detection accuracy in both gray and white matter, no significant difference between gyri and sulci, and limited contribution from subcortical areas. Potential targets are located within the depths of and surrounding the lateral fissure bilaterally, such as the (sub)central sulcus, the transverse temporal gyrus, the supramarginal cortex, and parts of the insula. The results highlight the potential benefit of extending beyond the motor cortical surface and reaching the sulcal depth for speech neuroprostheses.

RevDate: 2025-09-06

Zhou E, Wang X, Liang J, et al (2025)

Chronically Stable, High-Resolution Micro-Electrocorticographic Brain-Computer Interfaces for Real-Time Motor Decoding.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) [Epub ahead of print].

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) enable communication between individuals and computers or other assistive devices by decoding brain activity, thereby reconstructing speech and motor functions for patients with neurological disorders. This study presents a high-resolution micro-electrocorticography (µECoG) BCI based on a flexible, high-density µECoG electrode array, capable of chronically stable and real-time motor decoding. Leveraging micro-nano manufacturing technology, the µECoG BCI achieves a 64-fold increase in electrode density compared to conventional clinical electrode arrays, enhancing spatial resolution while featuring scalability. Over a 203-day in vivo experiment, high-resolution µECoG carrying fine spatial specificity information demonstrated the potential to improve decoding performance while reduce implanted devices size. These advancements provide a pathway to overcome the limitations of conventional ECoG BCIs. During awake surgery, the µECoG BCI enabled game control after 7 min of model training. Furthermore, during practice of 19.87 h, the participant achieved cursor control with a bit rate of 1.13 bits per second (BPS) under full volitional control, and the bit rate reached up to 4.15 BPS with enhanced user interface. These results show that the µECoG BCI achieves comparable performance to intracortical electroencephalographic (iEEG) BCIs without intracortical invasiveness, marking a breakthrough in the clinical feasibility of flexible BCIs.

RevDate: 2025-09-06

Ji Z, Li L, Zheng M, et al (2025)

Conductive Hydrogel-Enabled Electrode for Scalp Electroencephalography Monitoring.

Small methods [Epub ahead of print].

Scalp electroencephalography (EEG) serves as a pivotal technology for the noninvasive monitoring of brain functional activity, diagnosing neurological disorders, and assessing cognitive states. However, inherent compatibility barriers between traditional rigid electrodes and the hairy scalp interface significantly compromise signal quality, long-term monitoring comfort, and user compliance. This review examines conductive hydrogel electrodes' pivotal role in advancing scalp EEG, particularly their unique capacity to overcome hair-interface barriers. The superiority of scalp EEG is first established over forehead/ear EEG for capturing diverse neural signals and defining core requirements for hair-compatible interfaces: scalp conformability, electrical conductivity, low contact impedance, and interfacial stability. Conductive hydrogel electrode applications are then detailed in alpha wave detection, sleep monitoring, event-related potential studies, and brain-computer interfaces. Finally, persisting challenges and future opportunities are discussed.

RevDate: 2025-09-05

Duan C, Ma S, Chen M, et al (2025)

Estrogen receptor beta in lateral habenula mediates antidepressant effects of estrogen in postpartum-hormone-withdrawal-induced depression.

Molecular psychiatry [Epub ahead of print].

Dramatic drop in reproductive hormone, especially estrogen level, from pregnancy to postpartum period is known to contribute to postpartum depression (PPD), but the underlying mechanism and the role of the estrogen receptors (ERs) in this process were unclear. Here, we used an estrogen-withdrawal-induced PPD model following hormone simulated pregnancy (HSP) in female Sprague-Dawley rats to induce depressive-like behaviors. After estrogen withdrawal, we observe an up-regulation of astrocyte-specific potassium channel (Kir4.1) in the brain's anti-reward center lateral habenula (LHb), along with enhanced bursting and excitability of LHb neurons. Among all 3 subtypes of ERs in the LHb, only ERβ shows an HSP-correlated expression temporal dynamics. Systemic administration of selective ERβ agonist, but not agonists of other subtypes of ERs, inhibits neuronal bursting activities and blocks up-regulation of Kir4.1 in the LHb, as well as decreases estrogen-withdrawal-induced depressive-like behavior. Importantly, intra-LHb injection of ERβ agonist is sufficient to rescue depressive-like behaviors induced by estrogen withdrawal. Conversely, local knock-down of ERβ in the LHb suppresses the antidepressant-like effect of estrogen. Our results reveal a critical role of LHb in the pathogenesis of hormone-sensitive PPD and ERβ as a critical mediator of estrogen's antidepressant effects on PPD.

RevDate: 2025-09-05

Zhou J, Li W, Xu S, et al (2025)

Multimodal, multifaceted, imaging-based human brain white matter atlas.

Science bulletin pii:S2095-9273(25)00852-7 [Epub ahead of print].

RevDate: 2025-09-05

Cao L, Li H, Dong Y, et al (2025)

Few-Shot Class-Incremental Learning with Dynamic Prototype Refinement for Brain Activity Classification.

IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

The brain-computer interface (BCI) system facilitates efficient communication and control, with Electroencephalography (EEG) signals as a vital component. Traditional EEG signal classification, based on static deeplearning models, presents a challenge when new classes of the subject's brain activity emerge. The goal is to develop a model that can recognize new few-shot classes while preserving its ability to discriminate between existing ones. This scenario is referred to as Few-Shot Class-Incremental Learning (FSCIL). This work introduces IncrementEEG, a novel framework meticulously designed to tackle the distinct challenges of FSCIL in EEG-based brain activity classification, focusing specifically on emotion recognition and steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP). Our work analyzes the role of additive angular margin loss in improving the model's discrimination capabilities. The proposed method is designed to demonstrate robustness in open-world conditions and adaptability to new tasks. Furthermore, we introduce a prototype refinement module comprising a prototype augmentation block and an update block. The prototype augmentation block in the deep feature space preserves the decision boundary for prior tasks, and the prototype update block utilizes a shared embedding space to compute the relation matrix for bootstrapping prototype updates. Extensive experiments conducted across multiple datasets show the superior performance of the IncrementEEG framework compared to state-of-the-art methods. The proposed method advances FSCIL brain activity classification, offering promising potential for applications in Brain-Computer Interface systems.

RevDate: 2025-09-05
CmpDate: 2025-09-05

Zhang J, Zhu L, Kong W, et al (2025)

Reinforcement Learning Decoding Method of Multi-User EEG Shared Information Based on Mutual Information Mechanism.

IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics, 29(9):6588-6598.

The multi-user motor imagery brain-computer interface (BCI) is a new approach that uses information from multiple users to improve decision-making and social interaction. Although researchers have shown interest in this field, the current decoding methods are limited to basic approaches like linear averaging or feature integration. They ignored accurately assessing the coupling relationship features, which results in incomplete extraction of multi-source information. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new reinforcement learning electroencephalography (EEG) decoding method based on mutual information mechanisms. Our method enhances the extraction of multi-source common information and uses a dynamic feedback model for inter-brain mutual information reward and punishment mechanisms in the reinforcement learning channel selection module. We feed the single-brain and inter-brain signals after channel selection into deep neural networks, which automatically extract coupled features. Finally, based on the attention indices calculated from EEG signals at prefrontal electrode positions, the output is obtained by voting. Our experimental results show that the average accuracy of dual-brain recognition is improved by 16% compared to single-brain mode. Furthermore, ablation experiments demonstrate that the reinforcement learning module and attention voting module enhance accuracy by 14.5% and 15.7%, respectively.

RevDate: 2025-09-05

Li CP, Wang YY, Zhou CW, et al (2025)

Cutting-edge technologies in neural regeneration.

Cell regeneration (London, England), 14(1):38.

Neural regeneration stands at the forefront of neuroscience, aiming to repair and restore function to damaged neural tissues, particularly within the central nervous system (CNS), where regenerative capacity is inherently limited. However, recent breakthroughs in biotechnology, especially the revolutions in genetic engineering, materials science, multi-omics, and imaging, have promoted the development of neural regeneration. This review highlights the latest cutting-edge technologies driving progress in the field, including optogenetics, chemogenetics, three-dimensional (3D) culture models, gene editing, single-cell sequencing, and 3D imaging. Prospectively, the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), high-throughput in vivo screening, and brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies promise to accelerate discoveries in neural regeneration further, paving the way for more precise, efficient, and personalized therapeutic strategies. The convergence of these multidisciplinary approaches holds immense potential for developing transformative treatments for neural injuries and neurological disorders, ultimately improving functional recovery.

RevDate: 2025-09-04

Pan H, Gao H, Zhang Y, et al (2025)

Design and implementation of a writing-stroke motor imagery paradigm for multi-character EEG classification.

Neuroscience pii:S0306-4522(25)00906-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Motor imagery (MI) based brain-computer interfaces (BCI) decode neural activity to generate command outputs. However, the limited number of distinguishable commands in traditional MI-BCI systems restricts practical applications. To overcome this limitation, we propose a multi-character classification framework based on Electroencephalography (EEG) signals. A structurally simplified MI paradigm for stroke writing is designed, and maximize Euclidean distance trajectory optimization enhances neural separability among five stroke categories. The EEG data cover 11 motor imagery tasks, including five stroke-writing tasks and six related movement tasks such as hand, foot, tongue movements and eye blinks, collected from ten participants. Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD) eliminates artifact-related Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMFs) and reconstructs the signals. Kernel Principal Component Analysis (KPCA) then conducts nonlinear dimensionality reduction to extract discriminative features. Finally, a recurrent neural network based on Gated Recurrent Units (GRU) performs classification, effectively modeling the temporal dynamics of EEG signals. Experimental results indicate that the optimized stroke paradigm achieves an average classification accuracy of 84.77%, outperforming the unoptimized version at 76.83%. Compared to existing MI-BCI methods, the proposed framework improves classification accuracy and expands the set of distinguishable commands, demonstrating enhanced practicality and effectiveness.

RevDate: 2025-09-04

Bryan MJ, Schwock F, Yazdan-Shahmorad A, et al (2025)

Temporal basis function models for closed-loop neural stimulation.

Journal of neural engineering [Epub ahead of print].

UNLABELLED: Closed-loop neural stimulation provides novel therapies for neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD), but it is not yet clear whether artificial intelligence (AI) techniques can tailor closed-loop stimulation to individual patients or identify new therapies. Further advancements are required to address a number of difficulties with translating AI to this domain, including sample efficiency, training time, and minimizing loop latency such that stimulation may be shaped in response to changing brain activity.

APPROACH: we propose temporal basis function models (TBFMs) to address these difficulties, and explore this approach in the context of excitatory optogenetic stimulation. We demonstrate the ability of TBF models to provide a single-trial, spatiotemporal forward prediction of the effect of optogenetic stimulation on local field potentials (LFPs) measured in two non-human primates. The simplicity of TBF models allow them to be sample efficient (<20min of training data), rapid to train (<5min), and low latency (<0.2ms) on desktop CPUs.

MAIN RESULTS: we demonstrate the model on 40 sessions of previously published excitatory optogenetic stimulation data. Surprisingly, on test sets it achieved a prediction accuracy 44% higher than a complex nonlinear dynamical systems model that requires hours to train, and 158% higher than a linear state-space model requiring 90 minutes to train. Additionally, in two simulations we show that it successfully allows a closed-loop stimulator to drive neural trajectories, and to achieve the user-preferred trade-offs between under- and over-stimulation, given the uncertainty in the model; it achieves an area under curve (AUC) of 0.7 in both cases.

SIGNIFICANCE: by optimizing for sample efficiency, training time, and latency, our approach begins to bridge the gap between complex AI-based approaches to modeling dynamical systems and the vision of using such forward prediction models to develop novel, clinically useful closed-loop stimulation protocols.

RevDate: 2025-09-04

Zhou L, Zhang B, Kang R, et al (2025)

Efficacy of the Conventional Rehabilitation Robot and bio-Signal Feedback-Based Rehabilitation Robot on Upper-Limb Function in Patients with Stroke: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

NeuroRehabilitation [Epub ahead of print].

BackgroundWith the development of modern biomedical engineering, bio-signal feedback-based robots, such as electromyography (EMG)-based and brain-computer interface (BCI)-based rehabilitation robot, have emerged beyond conventional designs. However, their comparative effectiveness for improving upper limb function in stroke patients remains unassessed.ObjectiveTo evaluate the comparative effectiveness and ranking of the conventional rehabilitation robot and bio-signal feedback-based rehabilitation robot in improving upper limb function in stroke patients.MethodsPubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PEDro, EI, IEEEXplore, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP, and ISRCTN Registry were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from their inception to December 25, 2024. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool (RoB 2.0) and evidence certainty with the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach. Network meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model within a frequentist framework.Results59 RCTs with 3,387 participants were included. Based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), the BCI-based rehabilitation robot demonstrated the highest overall effects (SUCRA: 99.9%), short-term effects (SUCRA: 99.4%), and long-term effects (SUCRA: 85.1%), though its long-term effects were not significant (mean difference: 2.21; 95% confidence interval: -0.79, 5.21). The EMG-based rehabilitation robot outperformed the conventional rehabilitation robot in short-term interventions (SUCRA: 59.8% vs. 40.3%), but it did not have the same advantage in long-term interventions (SUCRA: 27.1% vs. 66.8%).ConclusionsThe BCI-based rehabilitation robot might be the best choice for improving upper limb function in stroke patients. Future studies should focus on the intervention time for the EMG-based rehabilitation robot.

RevDate: 2025-09-04

Patel N, Verma J, S Jain (2025)

Improving EEG classification of alcoholic and control subjects using DWT-CNN-BiGRU with various noise filtering techniques.

Frontiers in neuroinformatics, 19:1618050.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal analysis plays a vital role in diagnosing and monitoring alcoholism, where accurate classification of individuals into alcoholic and control groups is essential. However, the inherent noise and complexity of EEG signals pose significant challenges. This study investigates the impact of three signal denoising techniques' Discrete Wavelet Transform(DWT), Discrete Fourier Transform(DFT), and Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) Non EEG signal classification performance. The motivation behind this study is to identify the most effective preprocessing method for enhancing deep learning model performance in this domain. A novel DWT-CNN-BiGRU model is proposed, which leverages CNN layers for spatial feature extraction and BiGRU layers for capturing temporal dependencies. Experimental results show that the DWT-based approach, combined with standard scaling, achieves the highest accuracy of 94%, with a precision of 0.94, a recall of 0.95, and an F1-score of 0.94. Compared to the baseline DWT-CNN-BiLSTM model, the proposed method provides a modest yet meaningful improvement of approximately 17% in classification accuracy. These findings highlight the superiority of DWT as a preprocessing method and validate the proposed model's effectiveness for EEG-based classification, contributing to the development of more reliable medical diagnostic tools.

RevDate: 2025-09-04

Wang X, Jin X, Kong W, et al (2025)

CAGCNet: generalized contrastive learning for person identification based on channel aggregated EEG features.

Cognitive neurodynamics, 19(1):141.

Person identification method based on electroencephalograms (EEG) signals, or so called brainprint recognition is a novel way to distinguish identities with advantages of high security. However, existing methods neglect the distribution difference between training and test data, and the large distance between projected features in the latent space makes the performance of the model degrade in the unseen domain data. In this paper, we propose channel aggregated based generalized contrastive learning framework, which combines multiple modules to overcome this challenge. To capture features from different granularities, we involve multi-scale convolution with channel attention block. In face of distribution of unseen domain, we introduce feature enhancement-based generalized contrast learning to improve the model generalization ability. In the generalized contrast learning module, taking the difficulty of reconstructing EEG signals into consideration, we augment the source domain data at the feature level to improve the generalization ability of the model on the unseen domain data. Extensive experiments on two multi-session datasets shows that our model outperformed other baseline methods, demonstrating its capability of better generalization performance to unseen domain.

RevDate: 2025-09-04

Yu H, Mu Q, Liu C, et al (2025)

Technical system of electroencephalography-based brain-computer interface: Advances, applications, and challenges.

Neural regeneration research pii:01300535-990000000-00984 [Epub ahead of print].

Electroencephalography-based brain-computer interfaces have revolutionized the integration of neural signals with technological systems, offering transformative solutions across neuroscience, biomedical engineering, and clinical practice. This review systematically analyzes advancements in electroencephalography-based brain-computer interface architectures, emphasizing four pillars, namely signal acquisition, paradigm design, decoding algorithms, and diverse applications. The aim is to bridge the gap between technology and application and guide future research. In signal acquisition, noninvasive systems using wet, dry, and semi-dry electrodes are more comfortable and gentler on the skin compared to traditional methods. However, ensuring stable signal quality over long periods of time remains a challenge. Minimally invasive approaches, such as microneedle arrays and endovascular probes, achieve near-invasive signal fidelity without major surgery. Paradigm design explores task-specific neural encoders. Although motor imagery paradigms are widely used in rehabilitation, they require weeks of user training. Steady-state visually evoked potential and P300 speller paradigms enable rapid calibration, but cause visual and cognitive fatigue. Advanced systems currently combine electroencephalography with electromyography or eye-tracking to better handle real-world tasks. Decoding algorithms have advanced through Riemannian geometry for improved noise filtering, deep learning architectures for automated spatiotemporal feature extraction, and transfer learning frameworks to minimize cross-subject calibration. However, challenges remain in managing inconsistent electroencephalography, reducing processing demands, and ensuring compatibility across different electroencephalography devices. Clinical trials reveal a predominant focus on stroke rehabilitation, while emerging frontiers include astronaut neuromonitoring in space exploration. Challenges include improving signal accuracy, minimizing movement interference, addressing ethical data concerns, and ensuring real-world use. Future advancements focus on biocompatible nanomaterials, adaptive algorithms, and multimodal integration, positioning electroencephalography-based brain-computer interfaces as pivotal tools in next-generation neurotechnology.

RevDate: 2025-09-03

Bao T, Wu Y, Zhang H, et al (2025)

Determining microbial extracellular alkaline phosphatase activity in seawater based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

Marine environmental research, 212:107470 pii:S0141-1136(25)00527-6 [Epub ahead of print].

Microbial extracellular alkaline phosphatase (ALP) plays a significant role in marine phosphorus cycle. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to accurately and rapidly measure ALP activity (APA) in seawater. However, the applications of the existing APA measurement methods are constrained by cumbersome pre-processing, lengthy measurement times, and the influence of colored substances or suspended particles in seawater samples, which limit our accurate understanding of the marine phosphorus cycle. In this study, we developed a sensitive and rapid technique for the quantitative determination of microbial alkaline phosphatase activity in seawater based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). This method uses 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP) as the substrate, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as an internal standard to establish a model for quantifying APA in seawater samples. Our results show that the Raman intensity ratio (I600/I700) between the enzymatic reaction product 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indole (BCI oxide dimers) (I600) and the internal standard (I700) is an ideal quantitation parameter, and there is a strong linear relationship between I600/I700 (y) and APA (x): y = 0.301x + 1.105, R[2] = 0.981. This method is capable of determining APA over a dynamic range of five orders of magnitude (from 0.1 to 10[4] mU L[-1]) with a detection limit of 0.1 mU L[-1]. The reliability of the method is confirmed by comparing the kinetic parameters of the fluorogenic method. Further, this method was tested and successfully applied to quantify APA in coastal and open ocean seawater samples from the Western Pacific Ocean, demonstrating the potential of this method for rapid and reliable detection of APA in the marine environment.

RevDate: 2025-09-03

Wang G, Jiang L, Song X, et al (2025)

Enhancing Neural Representations of Motor Imagery through Action-Specific Brain Connectivity Patterns.

IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

Motor imagery (MI) is a cognitive process that allows individuals to mentally simulate movements without physical execution. However, the exploration of functional connectivity (FC) and lateralization mechanisms under different MI actions remains insufficiently understood. In this work, the common orthogonal basis extraction (COBE) algorithm was employed to isolate action-specific components by removing shared background components from the raw FC of the MI process. We demonstrate that action-specific FC effectively captures the hemispheric statistical differences between left- and right-hand MI, outperforming traditional FC and temporal variability measures. And through a comprehensive analysis of network properties at three distinct levels, encompassing the whole-brain network properties, hemispherical properties, and individual nodal strength, complex lateralization patterns associated with diverse types of MI processes were successfully discerned. Furthermore, lateralization indices were further calculated to quantitatively reveal the degree of brain lateralization. Notably, the lateralization performance (LP) derived from action-specific FC exhibited a significant predictive capacity for MI performance, thereby suggesting its potential to evaluate individual MI capability. Collectively, these findings validate the action-specific FC patterns in characterizing neural mechanisms of MI processes and indicate that the LP could potentially be a useful tool to predict the MI performance of MI-based brain-computer inference (BCI), thereby contributing to the formulation of personalized therapeutic strategies for clinical rehabilitation from a new perspective.

RevDate: 2025-09-03
CmpDate: 2025-09-03

Han NT, Yan T, Zhuang R, et al (2025)

Sensory Attenuation of Auditory P2 Responses is Modulated by the Sense of Action Timing Control.

Psychophysiology, 62(9):e70134.

Sensory attenuation is a well-established phenomenon in which the neurophysiological response elicited by self-initiated stimuli is attenuated compared to identical externally generated stimuli. This phenomenon is mostly studied by comparing the N1 and P2 components of the auditory ERP. Sensory attenuation has also been linked to our sense of agency and control. In the present study, we investigated the role of action timing control in sensory attenuation. Previous studies that investigated the attenuation of the N1/P2 components instructed participants to generate self-initiated stimuli by having the participants perform a series of keypresses while EEG is recorded. ERP responses are then compared to a second condition where participants passively listen to identical sounds. Studies using this paradigm, known as the self-stimulation paradigm, have used a wide range of stimulus onset asynchronies (SOAs) for keypress timing. However, the choice of SOA is rarely explained, perhaps due to an assumption of trial independence. We found that as SOA increased, participants enacted more action timing control to maintain the specified SOA level. The degree of P2 suppression also increased as participants enacted more control. Contrary to most studies in the literature, we did not find N1 suppression but instead found N1 enhancement. The results suggest that P2 suppression may be related to action timing control while N1 enhancement may reflect factors other than motor predictions, in line with more recent interpretations of the N1 suppression effect.

RevDate: 2025-09-03
CmpDate: 2025-09-03

McGill K, Bhullar N, Carrandi A, et al (2025)

A Randomized Controlled Trial of an SMS-Based Brief Contact Intervention for People Bereaved by Suicide.

Suicide & life-threatening behavior, 55(5):e70043.

INTRODUCTION: Brief contact interventions (BCI) refer to short messages delivered proactively to a specific target population. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a mobile phone short-message service (SMS) BCI for people bereaved by suicide.

METHODS: Participants were randomly allocated. The BCI group received text messages over a 6-week period. The active control group received the intervention website. Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed demographic, suicide exposure and five key outcomes (psychological distress, suicidal ideation, complicated grief, resilience, and professional help-seeking intentions). BCI participants were also invited to participate in an interview post-intervention.

RESULTS: Of 99 participants randomized, 52 BCI and 47 control completed pre-intervention surveys. Post-intervention response rates were low (BCI: n = 15; 28.85%; active control: n = 16; 34.04%), with no statistically significant changes in key outcome measures. Eight BCI participants completed follow-up interviews. Relevance, timing of support, benefit to bereavement, and recommendations for scaling were identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Recruitment and retention challenges meant the effectiveness of the BCI could not be statistically determined. Qualitative evidence supported BCI acceptability for people bereaved by suicide. Recommendations to improve the intervention include embedding the BCI within existing postvention services offered soon after a death occurs and tailoring of messages to individuals' needs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trial Register (ACTRN12621001430820).

RevDate: 2025-09-03
CmpDate: 2025-09-03

Zhao Y, Lu P, Wang X, et al (2025)

Bidirectional optimization of firing rate in a mouse neuronal brain-machine interface.

Biology letters, 21(9):20250176.

Neuroplasticity enables the brain to adapt neural activity, but whether this can be harnessed for abstract optimization tasks like seeking curve extrema remains unclear. Here, we used a brain-machine interface in mice, pairing auditory feedback of neuronal firing rate with water rewards, to investigate whether motor cortex neurons can optimize activity along a unimodal curve ([Formula: see text]). The curve maps firing rate ([Formula: see text]) to sound frequency increase speed ([Formula: see text]), where the curve extremum accelerates reward acquisition. Over conditioning sessions, mice learned to modulate firing rates towards this peak, reducing reward time from 18.64 ± 7.30 s to 11.59 ± 4.38 s and increasing high-response events from 66 to 104 occurrences. Putative neurons increasingly prioritized high-response intervals, with positive proportion increments in upper intervals versus negative trends in lower ones. These findings demonstrate that cortical neurons can dynamically optimize activity along non-monotonic reward landscapes, revealing neuroplasticity as a substrate for adaptive self-optimization. This expands our understanding of how the brain learns abstract rules via feedback, with implications for neuroprosthetic design that leverage neural adaptability.

RevDate: 2025-09-03
CmpDate: 2025-09-03

Isakova EV, Kotov SV, VA Borisova (2025)

[Effectiveness of "brain-computer" interfaces with biofeedback in the rehabilitation of cognitive impairment after a stroke].

Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii imeni S.S. Korsakova, 125(8. Vyp. 2):54-60.

OBJECTIVE: Comparison of the effectiveness of two "brain-computer" interface (BCI) software complexes using biofeedback (BF) and standard therapy in restoring cognitive functions after a stroke.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eighty-nine stroke patients were examined. Neuropsychological testing was carried out using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), the Tracking test, the Wechsler subtest 9 Kohs block design test, the Schulte tables, the Memorization of 10 Words test (according to A.R. Luria). Using the simple randomization method, three groups were formed: the main group (n=37), the comparison group (n=33) and the control group (n=19). In Group 1, sessions were conducted with BCI+BF based on the rhythm P300; in Group 2, with BCI+BF based on the mu-rhythm of electroencephalography (EEG), Group 3 received standard therapy.

RESULTS: An increase in the total MoCA score was reported in all three groups. The results in Groups 1 and 2 were comparable, exceeding those in Group 3 (p1-2=0.199, p1-3<0.001, p2-3=0.037). The effectiveness in Group 1 did not depend on the baseline MoCA score, exceeding the indicators in Group 3; in Group 2, the advantage over Group 3 was with a baseline MoCA of at least 22. According to the Schulte tables and the Tracking test, comparable statistically significant changes were obtained in Groups 1 and 2; no statistically significant change was reported in the control group. The Kohs block design test showed a more statistically significant change in the main group. The Memorization of 10 Words test by A.R. Luria also showed a more consistent improvement in mnestic disorders in the main group.

CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of BCI+BF exceeded standard therapy for post-stroke cognitive impairment. The advantage of IMC+BFB used in the main group over IMC+BFB in the comparison group was noted, which was due to a decrease in the effectiveness of the latter with a baseline MoCA score of less than 22 points, lower performance in the Memorizing 10 Words test and the Kohs block design test.

RevDate: 2025-09-03
CmpDate: 2025-09-03

Paveliev M, Melnikova A, Egorchev AA, et al (2025)

Neuroimplants and the Glial Scar: What Makes the Brain-Computer Link Work?.

Journal of neurochemistry, 169(9):e70203.

Neuroimplants are likely major technological breakthroughs of the next decade with the potential for unprecedented social impact. In addition to attractive and miracle-looking possibilities, the major obstacle for the industry is complicated, unpredictable, and unfavorable side effects due to tissue damage, biocompatibility limitations, and foreign body response at the brain-implant interface. Luckily, one major barrier preventing the connection of the neuroimplant to brain cells-the glial scar-has been studied previously for its role in brain trauma. This review highlights pharmacological and tissue engineering avenues that could be readily transferred from the brain trauma area to fast-growing neuroimplant engineering. The opportunities for chondroitinase ABC treatment, stem cells, and hydrogels for the prevention of glial scarring are emphasized. Alternatively, the glial scar may also be viewed not as an obstacle but as a possible regeneration-permissive component of the optimally working brain-neuroimplant interface. Feasible steps in that direction are discussed, including applications for chondroitin sulfate-binding peptides. Finally, the crucial role of new microscopy and data processing techniques for peri-implant glial scar monitoring is highlighted. To that end, we stress the importance of artificial intelligence, including artificial neuronal networks, for the analysis of cell morphology at the brain-neuroimplant interface.

RevDate: 2025-09-03
CmpDate: 2025-09-03

Sakakibara Y, Kusutomi T, Kondoh S, et al (2025)

A Nostalgia Brain-Music Interface for enhancing nostalgia, well-being, and memory vividness in younger and older individuals.

Scientific reports, 15(1):32337.

Music-evoked nostalgia has the potential to assist in recalling autobiographical memories and enhancing well-being. However, nostalgic music preferences vary from person to person, presenting challenges for applying nostalgia-based music interventions in clinical settings, such as a non-pharmacological approach. To address these individual differences, we developed the Nostalgia Brain-Music Interface (N-BMI), a neurofeedback system that recommends nostalgic songs tailored to each individual. This system is based on prediction models of nostalgic feelings, developed by integrating subjective nostalgia ratings, acoustic features and in-ear electroencephalographic (EEG) data during song listening. To test the effects of N-BMI on nostalgic feelings, state-level well-being, and memory recall, seventeen older and sixteen younger participants took part in the study. The N-BMI was personalized for each individual, and songs were recommended under two conditions: the "nostalgic condition", where songs were selected to enhance nostalgic feelings, and the "non-nostalgic condition", to reduce nostalgic feelings. We found nostalgic feelings, state-level well-being, and subjective memory vividness were significantly higher after listening to the recommended songs in the nostalgic condition compared to the non-nostalgic condition in both groups. This indicates that the N-BMI enhanced nostalgic feelings, state-level well-being, and memory recall across both groups. The N-BMI paves the way for innovative therapeutic interventions, including non-pharmacological approaches.

RevDate: 2025-09-03

Morozova M, Yakovlev L, Syrov N, et al (2025)

Cortical responses to tactile imagery: a high-density EEG study of the μ-rhythm event-related desynchronization and somatosensory evoked potentials.

NeuroImage, 319:121440 pii:S1053-8119(25)00443-4 [Epub ahead of print].

Tactile imagery (TI) engages somatosensory cortices in both hemispheres, along with widespread brain regions associated with the imagery process itself. Actively simulating touch can influence the processing of actual tactile stimuli, as reflected by modulations in somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) components. This study uses high-density electroencephalography (EEG) and sLORETA-based source localization to analyse cortical sources of SEPs components susceptible to active skin sensations imagery. Twenty healthy participants performed TI and tactile attention (TA) tasks. TI enhanced early SEP components (P100), indicating engagement of primary somatosensory cortical networks. This was accompanied with robust μ-rhythm event-related desynchronization (ERD) localized to the postcentral gyrus. While TA also elicited μ-ERD, its cortical distribution was broader, suggesting involvement of more distributed and possibly non-specific attentional mechanisms. Notably, sensor-space analysis revealed an enhanced late frontal P200 peak during TI, potentially indicating increased frontal activation. However, source-space analysis confirmed the absence of frontal pole involvement in SEPs during TI, underscoring the importance of accurate source localization. Thus, TI was found to significantly activate primary somatosensory cortices, influencing early stages of real tactile stimulus processing. Its effects were more spatially focused compared to those induced by TA. These findings suggest that TI could be a prospective approach for sensorimotor rehabilitation. On the other hand, TA could provide an effortless method for modulating sensorimotor rhythms in BCI control.

RevDate: 2025-09-02

Liu M (2025)

Editorial: Neural dynamics for brain-inspired control and computing: advances and applications.

Frontiers in neuroscience, 19:1666218.

RevDate: 2025-09-02

Lee D, Byun K, S Lee (2025)

Enhancing cognitive function through blood flow restriction: An effective resistance exercise modality for middle-aged women.

Journal of exercise science and fitness, 23(4):379-388.

PURPOSE: Cognitive decline progresses more rapidly in women than in men, with a higher prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases observed in females. Exercise has been shown to enhance cognitive function through the upregulation of neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). However, high-load resistance exercise may not be suitable for all populations, particularly middle-aged women. Low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (LLBFR) has emerged as an effective alternative. This study investigated the acute effects of LLBFR on neurotrophic factors and cognitive function in middle-aged women.

METHODS: Fifteen healthy middle-aged women completed a randomized crossover trial involving four conditions: control (CON), low-load resistance exercise (LLRE), LLBFR, and moderate-load resistance exercise (MLRE). Cognitive function was assessed before and after each session using the color-word matching Stroop task (CWST). Blood samples were analyzed for serum levels of BDNF, VEGF, and IGF-1, and lactate concentrations were measured to evaluate metabolic responses.

RESULTS: Only the LLBFR condition showed significant improvements in CWST reaction time (p = 0.002) with no changes in error rates, indicating enhanced cognitive performance. Serum BDNF and VEGF levels increased significantly following both LLBFR (p < 0.001, p = 0.014, respectively) and MLRE (p < 0.001, p = 0.004, respectively), whereas IGF-1 levels remained unchanged across conditions. Increases in lactate concentrations were positively correlated with changes in BDNF and VEGF (p < 0.001 for both), but not with IGF-1.

CONCLUSION: A single session of LLBFR improved cognitive function and upregulated neurotrophic factors, particularly BDNF and VEGF, in middle-aged women. These findings suggest that LLBFR may be an effective intervention for promoting cognitive health in this population.

RevDate: 2025-09-02

Tong JQ, Binder JR, Conant LL, et al (2025)

A Common Representational Code for Event and Object Concepts in the Brain.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2025.08.22.671793.

Events and objects are two fundamental ways in which humans conceptualize their experience of the world. Despite the significance of this distinction for human cognition, it remains unclear whether the neural representations of object and event concepts are categorically distinct or, instead, can be explained in terms of a shared representational code. We investigated this question by analyzing fMRI data acquired from human participants (males and females) while they rated their familiarity with the meanings of individual words (all nouns) denoting object and event concepts. Multivoxel pattern analyses indicated that both categories of lexical concepts are represented in overlapping fashion throughout the association cortex, even in the areas that showed the strongest selectivity for one or the other type in univariate contrasts. Crucially, in these areas, a feature-based model trained on neural responses to individual event concepts successfully decoded object concepts from their corresponding activation patterns (and vice versa), showing that these two categories share a common representational code. This code was effectively modeled by a set of experiential feature ratings, which also accounted for the mean activation differences between these two categories. These results indicate that neuroanatomical dissociations between events and objects emerge from quantitative differences in the cortical distribution of more fundamental features of experience. Characterizing this representational code is an important step in the development of theory-driven brain-computer interface technologies capable of decoding conceptual content directly from brain activity.

RevDate: 2025-09-02

Spalding Z, Duraivel S, Rahimpour S, et al (2025)

Shared latent representations of speech production for cross-patient speech decoding.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology pii:2025.08.21.671516.

Speech brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) can restore communication in individuals with neuromotor disorders who are unable to speak. However, current speech BCIs limit patient usability and successful deployment by requiring large volumes of patient-specific data collected over long periods of time. A promising solution to facilitate usability and accelerate their successful deployment is to combine data from multiple patients. This has proven difficult, however, due to differences in user neuroanatomy, varied placement of electrode arrays, and sparse sampling of targeted anatomy. Here, by aligning patient-specific neural data to a shared latent space, we show that speech BCIs can be trained on data combined across patients. Using canonical correlation analysis and high-density micro-electrocorticography (μECoG), we uncovered shared neural latent dynamics with preserved micro-scale speech information. This approach enabled cross-patient decoding models to achieve improved accuracies relative to patient-specific models facilitated by the high resolution and broad coverage of μECoG. Our findings support future speech BCIs that are more accurate and rapidly deployable, ultimately improving the quality of life for people with impaired communication from neuromotor disorders.

RevDate: 2025-09-02

Teng J, Cho S, SM Lee (2025)

Tri-manual interaction in hybrid BCI-VR systems: integrating gaze, EEG control for enhanced 3D object manipulation.

Frontiers in neurorobotics, 19:1628968.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) integration with virtual reality (VR) has progressed from single-limb control to multi-limb coordination, yet achieving intuitive tri-manual operation remains challenging. This study presents a consumer-grade hybrid BCI-VR framework enabling simultaneous control of two biological hands and a virtual third limb through integration of Tobii eye-tracking, NeuroSky single-channel EEG, and non-haptic controllers. The system employs e-Sense attention thresholds (>80% for 300 ms) to trigger virtual hand activation combined with gaze-driven targeting within 45° visual cones. A soft maximum weighted arbitration algorithm resolves spatiotemporal conflicts between manual and virtual inputs with 92.4% success rate. Experimental validation with eight participants across 160 trials demonstrated 87.5% virtual hand success rate and 41% spatial error reduction (σ = 0.23 mm vs. 0.39 mm) compared to traditional dual-hand control. The framework achieved 320 ms activation latency and 22% NASA-TLX workload reduction through adaptive cognitive load management. Time-frequency analysis revealed characteristic beta-band (15-20 Hz) energy modulations during successful virtual limb control, providing neurophysiological evidence for attention-mediated supernumerary limb embodiment. These findings demonstrate that sophisticated algorithmic approaches can compensate for consumer-grade hardware limitations, enabling laboratory-grade precision in accessible tri-manual VR applications for rehabilitation, training, and assistive technologies.

RevDate: 2025-09-02

Song Z, Zhang X, Li M, et al (2025)

Online Neural-to-Movement Mapping Transfer for Task Switching and Retention in Brain-Machine Interfaces.

IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

Current brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) often rely on decoders trained for single tasks, limiting their flexibility in real-world applications. We propose an online learning framework that enables the transfer of neural-to-movement (knowledge) across tasks, supporting both task switching and memory retention. In our framework, neural activity is projected into a dynamical jPCA space to effectively dissociate into variant and invariant components. The variant components of the neural patterns are then aligned by deriving Gradient-based Kullback-Leibler Divergence Minimization (GKLD) for efficient online adaptation. A kernel reinforcement learning (KRL) model then decodes aligned neural signals while reusing prior neural-to-movement mapping. Evaluated on rats switching between a one-lever pressing and a two-lever discrimination task, the framework shows rapid convergence, over four times faster than the baseline method, and improves decoding accuracy by around 35% during task switching. Furthermore, when switching back to the original task, the framework successfully retains knowledge from the old task. Our method demonstrates general applicability to multiple task switching scenarios and maintains stable decoding across three representative days over a 21-day period, highlighting its potential for long-term, real-world use.

RevDate: 2025-09-01
CmpDate: 2025-09-01

Du Z, Chu C, Shi W, et al (2025)

Connectome-constrained ligand-receptor interaction analysis for understanding brain network communication.

Nature communications, 16(1):8179.

Both diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and transcriptomic technologies have provided unprecedented opportunities to dissect brain network communication, offering insights from structural connectivity and signaling molecules separately. However, incorporating these complementary modalities for characterizing the interregional communication remains challenging. By simplifying the communication processes into an optimal transport problem, which is defined as the ligand-receptor expression coupling constrained by structurally-derived communication cost, we develop a method called CLRIA (connectome-constrained ligand-receptor interaction analysis) to infer a low-rank representation of ligand-receptor interaction-mediated communication networks. To solve the proposed optimization problem, the block majorization minimization algorithm is adopted and proven to converge globally. We benchmark CLRIA on simulated and published data, validating its accuracy and computational efficiency. Subsequently, we demonstrate the CLRIA's utility in evaluating communication strategies and asymmetric communication using its solution. Furthermore, CLRIA-derived communication patterns successfully decode brain state transitions. Overall, our results highlight CLRIA as a valuable tool for understanding complex communication in the brain.

RevDate: 2025-09-01

Zhao Y, Sun R, Wang Z, et al (2025)

Engineered Hydrogels as Functional Components in Controllable Neuromodulation for Translational Therapeutics.

ACS applied bio materials [Epub ahead of print].

Controllable neuromodulation leveraging multimodal triggers synergized with hydrogels represents a transformative therapeutic strategy for pro-regenerative neural repair. Strategic incorporation of programmable neuromodulatory interventions and engineered hydrogels within localized neural niches is critical for clinical translation, characterized by lower invasiveness and greater therapeutic efficacy. This review elucidates the physiochemical features of hydrogels, systematically classifying hydrogel-based neuromodulation into five distinct modes (electrical, ionic, biomechanical, optical, and biochemical) and highlighting the intrinsic multidimensional structural and chemical engineering employed to enhance neuromodulatory performance. Key principles of hydrogel design and fabrication are provided from the perspective of tissue-implant interactions, such as mechanical compatibility, electrointegration, adhesion, and wireless activation. Hydrogels embedded with low-impedance organic and inorganic components, such as conductive polymers and noble metals, are investigated to provide high-level evidence to enable precise cellular stimulation for intrinsic nerve repair, neural prosthesis, and brain-machine interface. Crucially, this review highlights the synergistic integration of these principles into multimodal, closed-loop systems, which combine functions like electrophysiological sensing with on-demand biochemical release for intelligent, autonomous therapies. Finally, this review confronts the critical challenges for clinical translation and discusses future directions, including the potential of artificial intelligence-driven materials design to accelerate the development of next-generation neural interfaces.

RevDate: 2025-08-31
CmpDate: 2025-08-31

Li S, Fu Y, Zhang Y, et al (2025)

[Research on fatigue recognition based on graph convolutional neural network and electroencephalogram signals].

Sheng wu yi xue gong cheng xue za zhi = Journal of biomedical engineering = Shengwu yixue gongchengxue zazhi, 42(4):686-692.

Electroencephalogram (EEG) serves as an effective indicator of detecting fatigue driving. Utilizing the open accessible Shanghai Jiao Tong University Emotion Electroencephalography Dataset (SEED-VIG), driving states are divided into three categories including awake, tired and drowsy for investigation. Given the characteristics of mutual influence and interdependence among EEG channels, as well as the consistency of the graph convolutional neural network (GCNN) structure, we designed an adjacency matrix based on the Pearson correlation coefficients of EEG signals among channels and their positional relationships. Subsequently, we developed a GCNN for recognition. The experimental results show that the average classification accuracy of driving state categories for 20 subjects, from the SEED-VIG dataset under the smooth feature of differential entropy (DE) linear dynamic system is 91.66%. Moreover, the highest classification accuracy can reach 98.87%, and the average Kappa coefficient is 0.83. This work demonstrates the reliability of this method and provides a guideline for the research field of safe driving brain computer interface.

RevDate: 2025-08-31
CmpDate: 2025-08-31

Xiao N, M Li (2025)

[Motor imagery classification based on dynamic multi-scale convolution and multi-head temporal attention].

Sheng wu yi xue gong cheng xue za zhi = Journal of biomedical engineering = Shengwu yixue gongchengxue zazhi, 42(4):678-685.

Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are renowned for their excellent representation learning capabilities and have become a mainstream model for motor imagery based electroencephalogram (MI-EEG) signal classification. However, MI-EEG exhibits strong inter-individual variability, which may lead to a decline in classification performance. To address this issue, this paper proposes a classification model based on dynamic multi-scale CNN and multi-head temporal attention (DMSCMHTA). The model first applies multi-band filtering to the raw MI-EEG signals and inputs the results into the feature extraction module. Then, it uses a dynamic multi-scale CNN to capture temporal features while adjusting attention weights, followed by spatial convolution to extract spatiotemporal feature sequences. Next, the model further optimizes temporal correlations through time dimensionality reduction and a multi-head attention mechanism to generate more discriminative features. Finally, MI classification is completed under the supervision of cross-entropy loss and center loss. Experiments show that the proposed model achieves average accuracies of 80.32% and 90.81% on BCI Competition IV datasets 2a and 2b, respectively. The results indicate that DMSCMHTA can adaptively extract personalized spatiotemporal features and outperforms current mainstream methods.

RevDate: 2025-08-31
CmpDate: 2025-08-31

Pang Z, Wang Y, Dong Q, et al (2025)

[Research on hybrid brain-computer interface based on imperceptible visual and auditory stimulation responses].

Sheng wu yi xue gong cheng xue za zhi = Journal of biomedical engineering = Shengwu yixue gongchengxue zazhi, 42(4):660-667.

In recent years, hybrid brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) have gained significant attention due to their demonstrated advantages in increasing the number of targets and enhancing robustness of the systems. However, Existing studies usually construct BCI systems using intense auditory stimulation and strong central visual stimulation, which lead to poor user experience and indicate a need for improving system comfort. Studies have proved that the use of peripheral visual stimulation and lower intensity of auditory stimulation can effectively boost the user's comfort. Therefore, this study used high-frequency peripheral visual stimulation and 40-dB weak auditory stimulation to elicit steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP) and auditory steady-state response (ASSR) signals, building a high-comfort hybrid BCI based on weak audio-visual evoked responses. This system coded 40 targets via 20 high-frequency visual stimulation frequencies and two auditory stimulation frequencies, improving the coding efficiency of BCI systems. Results showed that the hybrid system's averaged classification accuracy was (78.00 ± 12.18) %, and the information transfer rate (ITR) could reached 27.47 bits/min. This study offers new ideas for the design of hybrid BCI paradigm based on imperceptible stimulation.

RevDate: 2025-08-31
CmpDate: 2025-08-31

Fu Y, H Lu (2025)

[Technical maturity and bubble risks of brain-computer interface (BCI): Considerations from research to industrial translation].

Sheng wu yi xue gong cheng xue za zhi = Journal of biomedical engineering = Shengwu yixue gongchengxue zazhi, 42(4):651-659.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology faces structural risks due to a misalignment between its technological maturity and industrialization expectations. This study used the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) framework to assess the status of major BCI paradigms-such as steady-state visual evoked potential (SSVEP), motor imagery, and P300-and found that they predominantly remained at TRL4 to TRL6, with few stable applications reaching TRL9. The analysis identified four interrelated sources of bubble risk: overly broad definitions of BCI, excessive focus on decoding performance, asynchronous translational progress, and imprecise terminology usage. These distortions have contributed to the misallocation of research resources and public misunderstanding. To foster the sustainable development of BCI, this paper advocated the establishment of a standardized TRL evaluation system, clearer terminological boundaries, stronger support for fundamental research, enhanced ethical oversight, and the implementation of inclusive and diversified governance mechanisms.

RevDate: 2025-08-31

Zhu S, Cao T, He Q, et al (2025)

Advanced neuroimaging techniques to decipher brain connectivity networks in patients with disorder of consciousness: a narrative review.

NeuroImage. Clinical, 48:103864 pii:S2213-1582(25)00134-2 [Epub ahead of print].

Advanced neuroimaging techniques have revolutionized our ability to decode brain networks in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC), offering unprecedented insights into the structural and functional underpinnings of consciousness impairment. This review systematically examines and summarizes the clinical applications of modern neuroimaging methodologies-specifically functional MRI and diffusion MRI- for DoC patients from three key perspectives: (1) pathogenic mechanism and theory evolution, (2) accurate diagnosis and prognosis assessment, and (3) treatment strategy and efficacy evaluation. By integrating network neuroscience with clinical insights, we highlight the transformative role of neuroimaging in unraveling network-level damage, refining clinical assessments, and guiding therapeutic innovations. We further outline the potential applicational challenges associated with leveraging neuroimaging techniques to advance both scientific research on consciousness networks and clinical practice in DoC management, hoping to better address these complex conditions.

RevDate: 2025-08-30
CmpDate: 2025-08-30

Vargas-Irwin CE, Hosman T, Gusman JT, et al (2025)

Gesture encoding in human left precentral gyrus neuronal ensembles.

Communications biology, 8(1):1315.

Understanding the cortical activity patterns driving dexterous upper limb motion has the potential to benefit a broad clinical population living with limited mobility through the development of novel brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. The present study examines the activity of ensembles of motor cortical neurons recorded using microelectrode arrays in the dominant hemisphere of two BrainGate clinical trial participants with cervical spinal cord injury as they attempted to perform a set of 48 different hand gestures. Although each participant displayed a unique organization of their respective neural latent spaces, it was possible to achieve classification accuracies of ~70% for all 48 gestures (and ~90% for sets of 10). Our results show that single-unit ensemble activity recorded in a single hemisphere of human precentral gyrus has the potential to generate a wide range of gesture-related signals across both hands, providing an intuitive and diverse set of potential command signals for intracortical BCI use.

RevDate: 2025-08-30

Wang Z, Tan S, Lu K, et al (2025)

The contributions of aquaporin-4 to water exchange across the blood-brain barrier measured by filter-exchange imaging.

Magnetic resonance in medicine [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: Water exchange across the blood-brain barrier (WEXBBB) is a promising biomarker for assessing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. However, the physiological mechanisms governing WEXBBB remain unclear. This study was conducted to investigate the contribution of Na[+]/K[+]-ATPase (NKA) on the luminal side of endothelial cells and aquaporin-4 (AQP4) to WEXBBB.

METHODS: WEXBBB was measured using filter-exchange imaging for BBB assessment (FEXI-BBB) on rats, and data were fitted using an adapted two-compartment crusher-compensated exchange rate (CCXR) model. Test-retest reliability of the vascular water efflux rate constant (kbo) was assessed. Ouabain and 2-(nicotinamide)-1,3,4-thiadiazole (TGN-020) were administered to inhibit NKA on the luminal side of endothelial cells and AQP4, respectively, to investigate their roles in WEXBBB measured by FEXI-BBB.

RESULTS: Fixing intravascular diffusivity in the two-compartment CCXR model significantly improved estimation accuracy and precision of kbo and other parameters. The test-retest experiment demonstrated that this method had good reproducibility in measuring kbo (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.79). Administering TGN-020, which inhibits AQP4, significantly decreased kbo by 32% (kbo = 3.07 ± 0.81 s[-1] vs. 2.09 ± 1.10 s[-1], p < 0.05). However, the ouabain-treated group showed no significant change in kbo compared with that of the control group (2.51 ± 0.58 s[-1] vs. 2.37 ± 1.02 s[-1], p = 0.73) in the NKA inhibition experiment.

CONCLUSIONS: WEXBBB decreased by 32% after administering TGN-020, but no downward trend was noted after administering ouabain. Our findings indicate that AQP4 expression/function, but not NKA activity on the luminal side of endothelial cells, plays a significant role in regulating WEXBBB.

RevDate: 2025-08-29
CmpDate: 2025-08-30

Wan C, Zhang Q, Qiu Y, et al (2025)

Effects of dual-task mode brain-computer interface based on motor imagery and virtual reality on balance and attention in patients with stroke: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 22(1):187.

BACKGROUND: Brain-computer interface (BCI) has been shown to be beneficial in improving lower limb motility in stroke, but their effectiveness on balance and attention is unclear. In addition, current BCIs are mostly in single-task mode. The BCI system used in this study was based on a dual-task model of motor imagery (MI) and virtual reality (VR). Previous studies have demonstrated that dual-task seems to be beneficial for balance and attention. The purpose of this study was to validate the effects of MI-VR-based dual-task BCI on balance and attention in participants with stroke.

METHODS: This pilot, single-blind, randomized controlled trial involved 38 stroke participants, randomized to the BCI (BCI pedaling training) or control group (conventional pedaling). Both groups trained 20 min daily, 5 days a week for 4 weeks, alongside conventional rehabilitation. Thirty participants completed the program (mean age: 56.56 years, mean disease duration: 4.48 months). Assessments were made before and after 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and secondary outcomes included the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT), Fugl-Meyer Lower Extremity Assessment (FMA-LE), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), and average attention index.

RESULTS: 30 participants completed the study (14 in the BCI and 16 in the control group). The retention rates were 73.68% and 84.21% respectively. No adverse events were reported in this study and participants did not report any discomfort. The changes in BBS, TUGT and SDMT values in the BCI group were significantly better than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Average attention index of the BCI group's participants grew with the number of training sessions, and there was a significant difference comparing pre- to post-treatment (p < 0.05). The value of BBS change is linearly correlated with the value of SDMT change (F = 8.778, y = 0.59x + 1.90, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: This study initially showed positive effects of dual-task mode of BCI pedalling training on balance and attention in stroke participants. However, given the preliminary nature of this study and its limitations, the results need to be treated with caution. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2300071522. Registered on 2023/05/17.

RevDate: 2025-08-29
CmpDate: 2025-08-29

Metwalli D, Kiroles AE, Radwan YA, et al (2025)

ArEEG: an Open-Access Arabic Inner Speech EEG Dataset.

Scientific data, 12(1):1513.

Recent advancements in Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) technology are shifting towards inner speech over motor imagery due to its intuitive nature and broader command spectrum, enhancing interaction with electronic devices. However, the reliance on a large number of electrodes in available datasets complicates the development of cost-effective BCIs. Additionally, the lack of publicly available datasets hinder the development of this technology. To address this, we introduce a new Arabic Inner Speech dataset, featuring five distinct classes, exceeding the typical four-class datasets, and recorded using only eight electrodes, making it an economical solution. Our primary objective is to provide an open-access, multi-class Electroencephalographic (EEG) dataset in Arabic for inner speech, encompassing five commands. This dataset is designed to enhance our understanding of brain activity, facilitate the integration of BCI technologies in Arabic-speaking regions, and serve as a valuable resource for developing and testing real-world BCI applications. Through this contribution, we aim to bridge the gap between language-specific neural data and the field of neurotechnology, fostering innovation and inclusivity in BCI research.

RevDate: 2025-08-29

Swarnakar R (2025)

Brain-Computer Interfaces in Rehabilitation: Implementation Models and Future Perspectives.

Cureus, 17(7):e88873.

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) represent an emerging advancement in rehabilitation, enabling direct communication between the brain and external devices to aid recovery in individuals with neurological impairments. BCIs can be classified into invasive, semi-invasive, non-invasive, or hybrid types. By interpreting neural signals and converting them into control commands, BCIs can bypass damaged pathways, offering therapeutic potential for conditions such as stroke, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. BCIs' current applications, such as motor restoration via robotic exoskeletons and functional electrical stimulation, cognitive enhancement through neurofeedback and attention training, and communication tools for individuals with severe physical limitations, are largely being explored within research settings and are not yet part of routine clinical practice. Advances in EEG signal acquisition, machine learning, wearable and wireless systems, and integration with virtual reality are enhancing the clinical utility of BCIs by improving accuracy, adaptability, and usability. However, widespread clinical adoption faces challenges, including signal variability, training complexity, data privacy, and ethical and regulatory issues. Ethical challenges in BCI include issues related to the ownership and misuse of brain data, risks of neural interference, threats to autonomy and personal identity, as well as concerns around data privacy, user consent, emotional manipulation, and accountability in neural interventions. In this context, this editorial has also proposed one model (NEURO model checklist) for BCI implementation in rehabilitation. The future of BCIs in rehabilitation lies in developing personalized, closed-loop, and home-based systems, enabled by interdisciplinary collaboration among clinicians, engineers, neuroscientists, and policymakers. With continued research and ethical implementation, BCIs have the potential to transform neurorehabilitation and greatly enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.

RevDate: 2025-08-29

Zhang S, Lu Z, Zhang B, et al (2025)

Graph-based feature learning methods for subject-dependent and subject-independent motor imagery EEG decoding.

Cognitive neurodynamics, 19(1):139.

UNLABELLED: The significant intra-individual variability and inter-individual differences in scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) make it difficult to learn task-distinguishable features, posing a challenge for motor imagery brain-computer interfaces. Current feature learning methods often produce an incomplete feature space, struggling to accommodate these variations and differences. Additionally, the weak discriminative nature of this feature space results in diminished EEG classification performance. This paper introduces novel graph-based feature learning methods to improve motor imagery decoding performance in both subject-dependent and subject-independent contexts. Firstly, construct a complete time-frequency-spatial-graph (TFSG) feature space. The original EEG signals are segmented into multiple time-frequency units using filter banks and sliding time windows. Spatial and brain network-based graph features are then extracted from each time-frequency unit and fused to create the TFSG features. This fused feature space is larger and more inclusive, effectively accommodating both intra- and inter-individual EEG variations. Secondly, learn a discriminative TFSG feature space. Two advanced methods are proposed. The first method employs a nonconvex sparse optimization model with log function regularization, which reduces bias in model estimation, thereby enabling more accurate learning of EEG patterns. The second method incorporates Fisher's criterion regularization into a sparse optimization framework to improve feature separability. A unified algorithmic framework is developed to solve the two new models. Our methods are validated on two motor imagery EEG datasets, achieving the highest average classification accuracies of 82.93, 68.52, and 71.69% for subject-dependent, subject-independent, and subject-adaptive evaluation methods, respectively. Experimental results demonstrate that the developed TFSG features significantly enhance both subject-dependent and subject-independent decoding performance, while the proposed regularization models improve the discriminability of the feature space, leading to further advancements in motor imagery decoding performance.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-025-10291-5.

RevDate: 2025-08-29

Kim J, SP Kim (2025)

A Plug-and-Play P300-Based BCI with Zero-Training Application.

IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

The practical deployment of P300-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has long been hindered by the need for user-specific calibration and multiple stimulus repetitions. In this study, we build and validate a plug-and-play, zero-training P300 BCI system that operates in a single-trial setting using a pre-trained xDAWN spatial filter and a deep convolutional neural network. Without any subject-specific adaptation, participants could control an IoT device via the BCI system in real time, with decoding accuracy reaching 85.2% comparable to the offline benchmark of 87.8%, demonstrating the feasibility of realizing a plug-and-play BCI. Offline analyses revealed that a small set of parietal and occipital electrodes contributed most to decoding performance, supporting the viability of low-density, high-accuracy BCI configurations. A data sufficiency simulation provided quantitative guidelines for pre-training dataset size, and an error trial analysis showed that both stimulus timing and preparatory attentional state influenced real-time decoding performance. Together, these results demonstrate the real-time validation of a fully pre-trained, zero-training P300 BCI operating on a single-trial basis, without stimulus repetition or user-specific calibration, and offer practical insights for developing scalable, robust, and user-friendly BCI systems.

RevDate: 2025-08-29

Li X, Wang X, Chen S, et al (2025)

Gamma-Band Binaural Beats Neuromodulation Enhances P300 Classification in an Auditory Brain-Computer Interface Paradigm.

IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

While established neuromodulation techniques like transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation have shown potential for enhancing brain-computer interface (BCI) performance, their clinical adoption faces challenges including high implementation costs, technical complexity, and safety concerns. This study investigated binaural beats (BB), a non-invasive auditory neuromodulation method characterized by operational simplicity and minimal adverse effects, as a practical alternative for optimizing auditory P300-BCI. Employing a crossover experimental design, thirty healthy participants underwent gamma-band (40 Hz) and alpha-band (10 Hz) BB stimulation in separate sessions. Auditory oddball paradigm experiments were conducted before and after each BB intervention. Electroencephalogram (EEG) data were decoded using both a machine learning classifier and a deep learning model for P300 classification. Additionally, irregular-resampling auto-spectral analysis (IRASA) was applied to extract aperiodic components from EEG during BB stimulation to evaluate changes in brain state. The results demonstrated frequency-dependent modulation effects: gamma-BB significantly improved P300 classification accuracy while alpha-BB impaired performance. Neurophysiological analysis revealed that gamma-BB decreased the aperiodic exponent, indicating enhanced brain arousal level, whereas alpha-BB produced the opposite pattern. Importantly, the aperiodic parameter change showed a significant association with BCI performance improvement. These findings established gamma-BB as an effective, low-cost neuromodulation strategy for augmenting auditory P300-BCI through brain state modulation.

RevDate: 2025-08-29

Xu M, Zhang B, Zhang L, et al (2025)

A Decade of Rapid Serial Visual Presentation Paradigm in Brain-Computer Interface for Target Detection: Current Status and Trends.

IEEE transactions on bio-medical engineering, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: Electroencephalography (EEG)-based Rapid Serial Visual Presentation (RSVP) has steadily gained attention since 2015 as a paradigm to enhance image target detection in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) used with healthy individuals.

METHODS: We reviewed the literature using Scopus and Web of Science as primary databases, covering publications from 2015 to 2024. After literature screening and filtering, a total of 86 papers on RSVP-BCI studies were analyzed over this decadelong period. The research categorizes RSVP into three dimensions: public datasets, paradigm encoding, and decoding methods, while exploring eight mode combinations involving target types, subject groups, and different modalities.

RESULTS: Our literature search revealed a scarcity of studies addressing diverse target types across different subject groups or modality combinations, indicating a promising direction for future RSVP-BCI development. Future efforts should prioritize inclusivity across all age groups, the design of user-friendly stimulus interfaces, and the development of advanced algorithms, with the goal of creating a more widely accessible RSVP-BCI system.

CONCLUSION: We have provided a comprehensive review of advances over the past decade in RSVP-based target detection, including datasets, encoding design, and decoding methods and potential applications.

SIGNIFICANCE: The present work aims to articulate prospective trajectories for the continued advancement of the RSVP community.

RevDate: 2025-08-29
CmpDate: 2025-08-29

Jiang H, Ren B, Zhang Y, et al (2025)

Alterations of plasma neural-derived extracellular vesicles microRNAs in patients with bipolar disorder.

Psychological medicine, 55:e256 pii:S0033291725000741.

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) alterations in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) are pivotal to the disease's pathogenesis. Since obtaining brain tissue is challenging, most research has shifted to analyzing miRNAs in peripheral blood. One innovative solution is sequencing miRNAs in plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs), particularly those neural-derived EVs emanating from the brain.

METHODS: We isolated plasma neural-derived EVs from 85 patients with BD and 39 healthy controls (HC) using biotinylated antibodies targeting a neural tissue marker, followed by miRNA sequencing and expression analysis. Furthermore, we conducted bioinformatic analyses and functional experiments to delve deeper into the underlying pathological mechanisms of BD.

RESULTS: Out of the 2,656 neural-derived miRNAs in EVs identified, 14 were differentially expressed between BD patients and HC. Moreover, the target genes of miR-143-3p displayed distinct expression patterns in the prefrontal cortex of BD patients versus HC, as sourced from the PsychENCODE database. The functional experiments demonstrated that the abnormal expression of miR-143-3p promoted the proliferation and activation of microglia and upregulated the expression of proinflammatory factors, including IL-1β, IL-6, and NLRP3. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, a module linking to the clinical symptoms of BD patients was discerned. Enrichment analyses unveiled these miRNAs' role in modulating the axon guidance, the Ras signaling pathway, and ErbB signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide the first evidence of dysregulated plasma miRNAs within neural-derived EVs in BD patients and suggest that neural-derived EVs might be involved in the pathophysiology of BD through related biological pathways, such as neurogenesis and neuroinflammation.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Wu Y, Qian B, Li T, et al (2025)

An eyecare foundation model for clinical assistance: a randomized controlled trial.

Nature medicine [Epub ahead of print].

In the context of an increasing need for clinical assessments of foundation models, we developed EyeFM, a multimodal vision-language eyecare copilot, and conducted a multifaceted evaluation, including retrospective validations, multicountry efficacy validation as a clinical copilot and a double-masked randomized controlled trial (RCT). EyeFM was pretrained on 14.5 million ocular images from five imaging modalities paired with clinical texts from global, multiethnic datasets. Efficacy validation invited 44 ophthalmologists across North America, Europe, Asia and Africa in primary and specialty care settings, highlighting its utility as a clinical copilot. The RCT-a parallel, single-center, double-masked study-assessed EyeFM as a clinical copilot in retinal disease screening among a high-risk population in China. A total of 668 participants (mean age 57.5 years, 79.5% male) were randomized to 16 ophthalmologists, equally allocated into intervention (with EyeFM copilot) and control (standard care) groups. The primary endpoint indicated that ophthalmologists with EyeFM copilot achieved higher correct diagnostic rate (92.2% versus 75.4%, P < 0.001) and referral rate (92.2% versus 80.5%, P < 0.001). Secondary outcome indicated improved standardization score of clinical reports (median 33 versus 37, P < 0.001). Participant satisfaction with the screening was similar between groups, whereas the intervention group demonstrated higher compliance with self-management (70.1% versus 49.1%, P < 0.001) and referral suggestions (33.7% versus 20.2%, P < 0.001) at follow-up. Post-deployment evaluations indicated strong user acceptance. Our study provided evidence that implementing EyeFM copilot can improve the performance of ophthalmologists and the outcome of patients. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry registration: ChiCTR2500095518 .

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Fan YS, Xu Y, Hettwer MD, et al (2025)

Neurodevelopmentally rooted epicenters in schizophrenia: sensorimotor-association spatial axis of cortical thickness alterations.

Molecular psychiatry [Epub ahead of print].

Pathological disturbances in schizophrenia have been suggested to propagate via the functional and structural connectome across the lifespan. However, how the connectome guides early cortical reorganization of developing schizophrenia remains unknown. Here, we used early-onset schizophrenia (EOS) as a neurodevelopmental disease model to investigate putative early pathologic origins propagating through the functional and structural connectome. We compared 95 patients with antipsychotic-naïve first-episode EOS and 99 typically developing controls (total n = 194; 120 females; 7-17 years of age). While patients showed widespread cortical thickness reductions, thickness increases were observed in primary cortical areas. Using normative connectomics models, we found that epicenters of thickness reductions were located in association regions linked to language, affective, and cognitive functions, while epicenters of thickness increases in EOS were located in sensorimotor regions subserving visual, somatosensory, and motor functions. Using post-mortem transcriptomic data of six donors, we observed that the epicenter map differentiated oligodendrocyte-related transcriptional changes at its sensory apex, whereas the association end was related to the expression of excitatory/inhibitory neurons. More generally, the epicenter map was associated with dysregulation of neurodevelopmental disorder genes and human accelerated region genes, suggesting potential common genetic determinants across diverse neurodevelopmental conditions. Taken together, our results highlight the developmentally rooted pathological origins of schizophrenia and its transcriptomic overlap with other neurodevelopmental disorders.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Marino PJ, Bahureksa L, Fisac CF, et al (2025)

A posture subspace in the primary motor cortex.

Neuron pii:S0896-6273(25)00557-4 [Epub ahead of print].

To generate movements, the brain must combine information about movement goal and body posture. The motor cortex (primary motor cortex [M1]) is a key node for the convergence of these information streams. How are posture and goal signals organized within M1's activity to permit the flexible generation of movement commands? To answer this question, we recorded M1 activity while monkeys performed a variety of tasks with the forearm in a range of postures. We found that posture- and goal-related components of neural population activity were separable and resided in nearly orthogonal subspaces. The posture subspace was stable across tasks. Within each task, neural trajectories for each goal had similar shapes across postures. Our results reveal a simpler organization of posture signals in M1 than previously recognized. The compartmentalization of posture and goal signals might allow the two to be flexibly combined in the service of our broad repertoire of actions.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Azati Y, Wang X, Ye X, et al (2025)

Refining the classification of combined alignment sections on mountainous freeways and analyzing the spatio-temporal effects on crash frequency.

Accident; analysis and prevention, 221:108222 pii:S0001-4575(25)00310-0 [Epub ahead of print].

Combined alignment sections of mountainous freeways often feature complex geometric configurations-such as downhill sag/convex curves, slope-changing curves, and uphill curves-that significantly affect crash risk. Existing studies typically apply homogeneous segmentation and broad classifications (e.g., downhill, uphill, sag/convex), which fail to capture the specific effects of geometric combinations on crash frequency. In addition, traffic operations and weather conditions in mountainous areas exhibit strong seasonal variation, and using annual data may obscure important patterns, making quarterly analysis necessary. The interaction of complex geometry, dynamic traffic flow, and adverse winter weather results in nonlinear spatio-temporal effects that conventional models cannot effectively capture. To address this, the study integrates road geometry, traffic operation, and environmental data into a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) model enhanced with Gaussian processes, systematically analyzing the nonlinear spatio-temporal effects on crash frequency. Results show that the proposed model outperforms spatial- or temporal-only models in prediction accuracy (RMSE = 0.566) and model fit (LOOIC = 5961.2), with the variance of spatio-temporal interaction effects estimated at 1.35 (95 % BCI: 1.12-1.58), indicating substantial nonlinear influence. Key findings include a 56 % increase in crash frequency on straight downhill sag curves, a 2 % reduction on straight uphill convex curves, an 80.3 % increase for every additional 1,000 vehicles in daily traffic flow, and a 28.8 % decrease in crash frequency for each 1 °C rise in temperature. The study presents a refined classification and modeling framework that significantly improves crash risk identification and prediction for mountainous freeways, offering strong support for traffic safety management.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Liu Z, Hong Q, Huang L, et al (2025)

Women with epilepsy during pregnancy: A systematic review of current guidelines.

Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 171:110658 pii:S1525-5050(25)00398-1 [Epub ahead of print].

OBJECTIVE: To systematically evaluate the quality of existing guidelines for the management of pregnancy in women with epilepsy (WWE) and compare their key recommendations.

METHODS: A systematic review of available clinical practice guidelines and expert consensus statements was conducted. The quality of the literature was assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation II (AGREE II) instrument. Core information was extracted using a predefined form and subjected to comparative analysis.

RESULTS: Only 14 guidelines on WWE pregnancy management have been published worldwide. Most guidelines performed well in scope definition, clarity of purpose, and presentation, but the evidence base was relatively weak. Recommendations were largely consistent across guidelines regarding preconception counseling, folic acid supplementation, vaginal delivery, breastfeeding, and avoidance of valproate. However, discrepancies were observed in the selection of certain antiseizure medications (ASMs), therapeutic drug monitoring, and the timing and dosage of folic acid supplementation. Current guidelines lack recommendations on newer ASMs and antinociceptive management during delivery.

CONCLUSION: The variability in recommendations among WWE pregnancy management guidelines reflects the insufficiency of the existing evidence base, highlighting the need for enhanced methodological rigor in guideline development and more comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations. Establishing large-scale prospective pregnancy registries is critical for improving WWE pregnancy management guidelines.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Korik A, Bois ND, Bornot JS, et al (2025)

Decoding the variable velocity of lower-limb stepping movements from EEG.

IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

Accurate decoding of lower-limb movement from electroencephalography (EEG) is essential for developing brain-computer interface (BCI) controlled exoskeletons in neurorehabilitation. This study investigates 3D velocity decoding at three fibular anatomical markers during overground stepping in healthy participants (N=9), using two approaches: (1) linear regression (LR) and (2) a deep learning (DL) framework combining convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and long short-term memory (LSTM) units. Participants were divided into two groups: G1 (n=5) performed cued forward and self-paced backward steps; G2 (n=4) performed cued forward and backward steps. The DL model significantly outperformed LR, achieving highest decoding accuracy (DA) in the forward-backward direction at the fibular head (R = 0.63±0.06, M±SD). Topographical analysis identified dominant contributions from the sensorimotor cortex (coupled with frontal regions in G2) within the 8-40 Hz band. Functional connectivity (FC) analysis revealed significant differences: only G2 showed statistically significant FC (p<0.05), likely reflecting increased cognitive and sensorimotor demands under dual-cue conditions. In G2, FC occurred across delta (0-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha/mu (8-12 Hz), and low-beta (12-18 Hz) bands, linking motor areas associated with lower- and upper-limb control to other cortical regions, including the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), superior frontal gyrus (SFG), posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), superior parietal lobule (SPL), and supramarginal gyrus (SMG). These findings demonstrate that EEG-based 3D decoding of lower-limb kinematics is feasible during realistic locomotor tasks and suggest that cortical synchronization patterns vary with movement context. Our CNN-LSTM framework may support adaptive, intent-driven exoskeleton development for personalized neurorehabilitation.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Zhou Q, Song J, Zhao Y, et al (2025)

IF-MMCL: an individual focused network with multi-view and multi-modal contrastive learning for cross-subject emotion recognition.

Medical & biological engineering & computing [Epub ahead of print].

Electroencephalography (EEG) usage in emotion recognition has garnered significant interest in brain-computer interface (BCI) research. Nevertheless, in order to develop an effective model for emotion identification, features need to be extracted from EEG data in terms of multi-view. In order to tackle the problems of multi-feature interaction and domain adaptation, we suggest an innovative network, IF-MMCL, which leverages multi-modal data in multi-view representation and integrates an individual focused network. In our approach, we build an individual focused network with multi-view that utilizes individual focused contrastive learning to improve model generalization. The network employs different structures for multi-view feature extraction and uses multi-feature relationship computation to identify the relationships between features from various views and modalities. Our model is validated using four public emotion datasets, each containing various emotion classification tasks. In leave-one-subject-out experiments, IF-MMCL performs better than the previous methods in model generalization with limited data.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Tarara P, Przybył I, Schöning J, et al (2025)

Motor imagery-based brain-computer interfaces: an exploration of multiclass motor imagery-based control for Emotiv EPOC X.

Frontiers in neuroinformatics, 19:1625279.

INTRODUCTION: Enhancing the command capacity of motor imagery (MI)-based brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) remains a significant challenge in neuroinformatics, especially for real-world assistive applications. This study explores a multiclass BCI system designed to classify multiple MI tasks using a low-cost EEG device.

METHODS: A BCI system was developed to classify six mental states: resting state, left and right hand movement imagery, tongue movement, and left and right lateral bending, using EEG data collected with the Emotiv EPOC X headset. Seven participants underwent a body awareness training protocol integrating mindfulness and physical exercises to improve MI performance. Machine learning techniques were applied to extract discriminative features from the EEG signals.

RESULTS: Post-training assessments indicated modest improvements in participants' MI proficiency. However, classification performance was limited due to inter- and intra-subject signal variability and the technical constraints of the consumer-grade EEG hardware.

DISCUSSION: These findings highlight the value of combining user training with MI-based BCIs and the need to optimize signal quality for reliable performance. The results support the feasibility of scalable, multiclass MI paradigms in low-cost, user-centered neurotechnology applications, while pointing to critical areas for future system enhancement.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Ye Y, Tian Y, Liu H, et al (2025)

High-Precision, Low-Threshold Neuromodulation With Ultraflexible Electrode Arrays for Brain-to-Brain Interfaces.

Exploration (Beijing, China), 5(4):e70040.

Neuromodulation is crucial for advancing neuroscience and treating neurological disorders. However, traditional methods using rigid electrodes have been limited by large stimulating currents, low precision, and the risk of tissue damage. In this work, we developed a biocompatible ultraflexible electrode array that allows for both neural recording of spike firings and low-threshold, high-precision stimulation for neuromodulation. Specifically, mouse turning behavior can be effectively induced with approximately five microamperes of stimulating current, which is significantly lower than that required by conventional rigid electrodes. The array's densely packed microelectrodes enable highly selective stimulation, allowing precise targeting of specific brain areas critical for turning behavior. This low-current, targeted stimulation approach helps maintain the health of both neurons and electrodes, as evidenced by stable neural recordings after extended stimulations. Systematic validations have confirmed the durability and biocompatibility of the electrodes. Moreover, we extended the flexible electrode array to a brain-to-brain interface system that allows human brain signals to directly control mouse behavior. Using advanced decoding methods, a single individual can issue eight commands to simultaneously control the behaviors of two mice. This study underscores the effectiveness of the flexible electrode array in neuromodulation, opening new avenues for interspecies communication and potential neuromodulation applications.

RevDate: 2025-08-28
CmpDate: 2025-08-28

Zhang M, Qian B, Gao J, et al (2025)

Recent Advances in Portable Dry Electrode EEG: Architecture and Applications in Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 25(16): pii:s25165215.

As brain-computer interface (BCI) technology continues to advance, research on human brain function has gradually transitioned from theoretical investigation to practical engineering applications. To support EEG signal acquisition in a variety of real-world scenarios, BCI electrode systems must demonstrate a balanced combination of electrical performance, wearing comfort, and portability. Dry electrodes have emerged as a promising alternative for EEG acquisition due to their ability to operate without conductive gel or complex skin preparation. This paper reviews the latest progress in dry electrode EEG systems, summarizing key achievements in hardware design with a focus on structural innovation and material development. It also examines application advances in several representative BCI domains, including emotion recognition, fatigue and drowsiness detection, motor imagery, and steady-state visual evoked potentials, while analyzing system-level performance. Finally, the paper critically assesses existing challenges and identifies critical future research priorities. Key recommendations include developing a standardized evaluation framework to bolster research reliability, enhancing generalization performance, and fostering coordinated hardware-algorithm optimization. These steps are crucial for advancing the practical implementation of these technologies across diverse scenarios. With this survey, we aim to offer a comprehensive reference and roadmap for researchers engaged in the development and implementation of next-generation dry electrode EEG-based BCI systems.

RevDate: 2025-08-28
CmpDate: 2025-08-28

Khuntia PK, Bhide PS, PV Manivannan (2025)

Preliminary Analysis and Proof-of-Concept Validation of a Neuronally Controlled Visual Assistive Device Integrating Computer Vision with EEG-Based Binary Control.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 25(16): pii:s25165187.

Contemporary visual assistive devices often lack immersive user experience due to passive control systems. This study introduces a neuronally controlled visual assistive device (NCVAD) that aims to assist visually impaired users in performing reach tasks with active, intuitive control. The developed NCVAD integrates computer vision, electroencephalogram (EEG) signal processing, and robotic manipulation to facilitate object detection, selection, and assistive guidance. The monocular vision-based subsystem implements the YOLOv8n algorithm to detect objects of daily use. Then, audio prompting conveys the detected objects' information to the user, who selects their targeted object using a voluntary trigger decoded through real-time EEG classification. The target's physical coordinates are extracted using ArUco markers, and a gradient descent-based path optimization algorithm (POA) guides a 3-DoF robotic arm to reach the target. The classification algorithm achieves over 85% precision and recall in decoding EEG data, even with coexisting physiological artifacts. Similarly, the POA achieves approximately 650 ms of actuation time with a 0.001 learning rate and 0.1 cm[2] error threshold settings. In conclusion, the study also validates the preliminary analysis results on a working physical model and benchmarks the robotic arm's performance against human users, establishing the proof-of-concept for future assistive technologies integrating EEG and computer vision paradigms.

RevDate: 2025-08-28
CmpDate: 2025-08-28

Isaev M, Bobrov P, Mokienko O, et al (2025)

Hemodynamic Response Asymmetry During Motor Imagery in Stroke Patients: A Novel NIRS-BCI Assessment Approach.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 25(16): pii:s25165040.

Understanding patterns of interhemispheric asymmetry is crucial for monitoring neuroplastic changes during post-stroke motor rehabilitation. However, conventional laterality indices often pose computational challenges when applied to functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data due to the bidirectional hemodynamic responses. In this study, we analyze fNIRS recordings from 15 post-stroke patients undergoing motor imagery brain-computer interface training across multiple sessions. We compare traditional laterality coefficients with a novel task response asymmetry coefficient (TRAC), which quantifies differential hemispheric involvement during motor imagery tasks. Both indices are calculated for oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin responses using general linear model coefficients, and their day-to-day dynamics are assessed with linear regression. The proposed TRAC demonstrates greater sensitivity than conventional measures, revealing significantly higher oxygenated hemoglobin TRAC values (0.18 ± 0.19 vs. -0.05 ± 0.20, p < 0.05) and lower deoxygenated hemoglobin TRAC values (-0.15 ± 0.27 vs. 0.04 ± 0.23, p < 0.05) in lesioned compared to intact hemispheres. Among patients who exhibit substantial motor recovery, distinct daily TRAC dynamics were observed, with statistically significant temporal trends. Overall, the novel TRAC metric offers enhanced discrimination of interhemispheric asymmetry patterns and captures temporal neuroplastic changes not detected by conventional indices, providing a more sensitive biomarker for tracking rehabilitation progress in post-stroke brain-computer interface applications.

RevDate: 2025-08-28
CmpDate: 2025-08-28

Moreno-Castelblanco SR, Vélez-Guerrero MA, M Callejas-Cuervo (2025)

Artificial Intelligence Approaches for EEG Signal Acquisition and Processing in Lower-Limb Motor Imagery: A Systematic Review.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 25(16): pii:s25165030.

BACKGROUND: Motor imagery (MI) is defined as the cognitive ability to simulate motor movements while suppressing muscular activity. The electroencephalographic (EEG) signals associated with lower limb MI have become essential in brain-computer interface (BCI) research aimed at assisting individuals with motor disabilities.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to evaluate methodologies for acquiring and processing EEG signals within brain-computer interface (BCI) applications to accurately identify lower limb MI.

METHODS: A systematic search in Scopus and IEEE Xplore identified 287 records on EEG-based lower-limb MI using artificial intelligence. Following PRISMA guidelines (non-registered), 35 studies met the inclusion criteria after screening and full-text review.

RESULTS: Among the selected studies, 85% applied machine or deep learning classifiers such as SVM, CNN, and LSTM, while 65% incorporated multimodal fusion strategies, and 50% implemented decomposition algorithms. These methods improved classification accuracy, signal interpretability, and real-time application potential. Nonetheless, methodological variability and a lack of standardization persist across studies, posing barriers to clinical implementation.

CONCLUSIONS: AI-based EEG analysis effectively decodes lower-limb motor imagery. Future efforts should focus on harmonizing methods, standardizing datasets, and developing portable systems to improve neurorehabilitation outcomes. This review provides a foundation for advancing MI-based BCIs.

RevDate: 2025-08-28
CmpDate: 2025-08-28

Alahaideb L, Al-Nafjan A, Aljumah H, et al (2025)

Brain-Computer Interface for EEG-Based Authentication: Advancements and Practical Implications.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 25(16): pii:s25164946.

Authentication is a critical component of digital security, and traditional methods often encounter significant vulnerabilities and limitations. This study addresses the emerging field of EEG-based authentication systems, highlighting their theoretical advancements and practical applicability. We conducted a systematic review of the existing literature, followed by an experimental evaluation to assess the feasibility, limitations, and scalability of these systems in real-world scenarios. Data were collected from nine subjects using various approaches. Our results indicate that the CNN model achieved the highest accuracy of 99%, while Random Forest (RF) and Gradient Boosting (GB) classifiers also demonstrated strong performance with 94% and 93%, respectively. In contrast, classifiers such as Support Vector Machine (SVM) and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) displayed significantly lower effectiveness, underscoring their limitations in capturing the complexities of EEG data. The findings suggest that EEG-based authentication systems have significant potential to enhance security measures, offering a promising alternative to traditional methods and paving the way for more robust and user-friendly authentication solutions.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Kumar R, Sporn K, Kaur H, et al (2025)

Current Mechanobiological Pathways and Therapies Driving Spinal Health.

Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland), 12(8): pii:bioengineering12080886.

Spinal health depends on the dynamic interplay between mechanical forces, biochemical signaling, and cellular behavior. This review explores how key molecular pathways, including integrin, yeas-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ), Piezo, and Wingless/Integrated (Wnt) with β-catenin, actively shape the structural and functional integrity of spinal tissues. These signaling mechanisms respond to physical cues and interact with inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), driving changes that lead to disc degeneration, vertebral fractures, spinal cord injury, and ligament failure. New research is emerging that shows scaffold designs that can directly harness these pathways. Further, new stem cell-based therapies have been shown to promote disc regeneration through targeted differentiation and paracrine signaling. Interestingly, many novel bone and ligament scaffolds are modulating anti-inflammatory signals to enhance tissue repair and integration, as well as prevent scaffold degradation. Neural scaffolds are also arising. These mimic spinal biomechanics and activate Piezo signaling to guide axonal growth and restore motor function. Scientists have begun combining these biological platforms with brain-computer interface technology to restore movement and sensory feedback in patients with severe spinal damage. Although this technology is not fully clinically ready, this field is advancing rapidly. As implantable technology can now mimic physiological processes, molecular signaling, biomechanical design, and neurotechnology opens new possibilities for restoring spinal function and improving the quality of life for individuals with spinal disorders.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Tonin A, Semprini M, Kiper P, et al (2025)

Brain-Computer Interfaces for Stroke Motor Rehabilitation.

Bioengineering (Basel, Switzerland), 12(8): pii:bioengineering12080820.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology holds promise for improving motor rehabilitation in stroke patients. This review explores the immediate and long-term effects of BCI training, shedding light on the potential benefits and challenges. Clinical studies have demonstrated that BCIs yield significant immediate improvements in motor functions following stroke. Patients can engage in BCI training safely, making it a viable option for rehabilitation. Evidence from single-group studies consistently supports the effectiveness of BCIs in enhancing patients' performance. Despite these promising findings, the evidence regarding long-term effects remains less robust. Further studies are needed to determine whether BCI-induced changes are permanent or only last for short durations. While evaluating the outcomes of BCI, one must consider that different BCI training protocols may influence functional recovery. The characteristics of some of the paradigms that we discuss are motor imagery-based BCIs, movement-attempt-based BCIs, and brain-rhythm-based BCIs. Finally, we examine studies suggesting that integrating BCIs with other devices, such as those used for functional electrical stimulation, has the potential to enhance recovery outcomes. We conclude that, while BCIs offer immediate benefits for stroke rehabilitation, addressing long-term effects and optimizing clinical implementation remain critical areas for further investigation.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Guan S, Meng F, C Wu (2025)

Authoritative Filial Piety Rather than Reciprocal Filial Piety Mediated the Relationship Between Parental Support, Career Decision Self-Efficacy, and Discrepancies Between Individual-Set and Parent-Set Career Goals.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 15(8): pii:bs15081135.

Although a wealth of research has examined the predictors influencing the discrepancies between individual-set and parent-set career goals (DBIPCG), investigations grounded in collectivist cultural perspectives remain relatively scarce. Within collectivist societies, filial piety holds profound cultural significance. Drawing on a dual filial piety framework encompassing reciprocal filial piety (RFP) and authoritative filial piety (AFP), this study aims to explore the interconnections among parental support, self-efficacy in career decision-making, dual filial piety orientations, and DBIPCG. The results indicated that parental support was negatively associated with DBIPCG. By contrast, self-efficacy in career decision-making did not predict DBIPCG directly. Instead, self-efficacy indirectly influenced DBIPCG, an effect mediated specifically by AFP rather than RFP, Furthermore, AFP was found to mediate the link between parental support and DBIPCG. These findings underscore the role of parental support in minimizing differences in career goal formation between generations and highlight the potentially adverse implications of AFP in exacerbating such discrepancies.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Zhao Y, Cao L, Ji Y, et al (2025)

Interpretable EEG Emotion Classification via CNN Model and Gradient-Weighted Class Activation Mapping.

Brain sciences, 15(8): pii:brainsci15080886.

Background/Objectives: Electroencephalography (EEG)-based emotion recognition plays an important role in affective computing and brain-computer interface applications. However, existing methods often face the challenge of achieving high classification accuracy while maintaining physiological interpretability. Methods: In this study, we propose a convolutional neural network (CNN) model with a simple architecture for EEG-based emotion classification. The model achieves classification accuracies of 95.21% for low/high arousal, 94.59% for low/high valence, and 93.01% for quaternary classification tasks on the DEAP dataset. To further improve model interpretability and support practical applications, Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM) is employed to identify the EEG electrode regions that contribute most to the classification results. Results: The visualization reveals that electrodes located in the right prefrontal cortex and left parietal lobe are the most influential, which is consistent with findings from emotional lateralization theory. Conclusions: This provides a physiological basis for optimizing electrode placement in wearable EEG-based emotion recognition systems. The proposed method combines high classification performance with interpretability and provides guidance for the design of efficient and portable affective computing systems.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Han Q, Sun Y, Ye H, et al (2025)

GAH-TNet: A Graph Attention-Based Hierarchical Temporal Network for EEG Motor Imagery Decoding.

Brain sciences, 15(8): pii:brainsci15080883.

BACKGROUND: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) based on motor imagery (MI) offer promising solutions for motor rehabilitation and communication. However, electroencephalography (EEG) signals are often characterized by low signal-to-noise ratios, strong non-stationarity, and significant inter-subject variability, which pose significant challenges for accurate decoding. Existing methods often struggle to simultaneously model the spatial interactions between EEG channels, the local fine-grained features within signals, and global semantic patterns.

METHODS: To address this, we propose the graph attention-based hierarchical temporal network (GAH-TNet), which integrates spatial graph attention modeling with hierarchical temporal feature encoding. Specifically, we design the graph attention temporal encoding block (GATE). The graph attention mechanism is used to model spatial dependencies between EEG channels and encode short-term temporal dynamic features. Subsequently, a hierarchical attention-guided deep temporal feature encoding block (HADTE) is introduced, which extracts local fine-grained and global long-term dependency features through two-stage attention and temporal convolution. Finally, a fully connected classifier is used to obtain the classification results. The proposed model is evaluated on two publicly available MI-EEG datasets.

RESULTS: Our method outperforms multiple existing state-of-the-art methods in classification accuracy. On the BCI IV 2a dataset, the average classification accuracy reaches 86.84%, and on BCI IV 2b, it reaches 89.15%. Ablation experiments validate the complementary roles of GATE and HADTE in modeling. Additionally, the model exhibits good generalization ability across subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: This framework effectively captures the spatio-temporal dynamic characteristics and topological structure of MI-EEG signals. This hierarchical and interpretable framework provides a new approach for improving decoding performance in EEG motor imagery tasks.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Lian X, Liu C, Gao C, et al (2025)

A Multi-Branch Network for Integrating Spatial, Spectral, and Temporal Features in Motor Imagery EEG Classification.

Brain sciences, 15(8): pii:brainsci15080877.

Background: Efficient decoding of motor imagery (MI) electroencephalogram (EEG) signals is essential for the precise control and practical deployment of brain-computer interface (BCI) systems. Owing to the complex nonlinear characteristics of EEG signals across spatial, spectral, and temporal dimensions, efficiently extracting multidimensional discriminative features remains a key challenge to improving MI-EEG decoding performance. Methods: To address the challenge of capturing complex spatial, spectral, and temporal features in MI-EEG signals, this study proposes a multi-branch deep neural network, which jointly models these dimensions to enhance classification performance. The network takes as inputs both a three-dimensional power spectral density tensor and two-dimensional time-domain EEG signals and incorporates four complementary feature extraction branches to capture spatial, spectral, spatial-spectral joint, and temporal dynamic features, thereby enabling unified multidimensional modeling. The model was comprehensively evaluated on two widely used public MI-EEG datasets: EEG Motor Movement/Imagery Database (EEGMMIDB) and BCI Competition IV Dataset 2a (BCIIV2A). To further assess interpretability, gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) was employed to visualize the spatial and spectral features prioritized by the model. Results: On the EEGMMIDB dataset, it achieved an average classification accuracy of 86.34% and a kappa coefficient of 0.829 in the five-class task. On the BCIIV2A dataset, it reached an accuracy of 83.43% and a kappa coefficient of 0.779 in the four-class task. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the network outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods in classification performance. Furthermore, Grad-CAM visualizations identified the key spatial channels and frequency bands attended to by the model, supporting its neurophysiological interpretability.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Vanutelli ME, Banzi A, Cicirello M, et al (2025)

Predicting State Anxiety Level Change Using EEG Parameters: A Pilot Study in Two Museum Settings.

Brain sciences, 15(8): pii:brainsci15080855.

Background: Museums are increasingly being recognized not only as cultural institutions but also as potential resources for enhancing psychological well-being. Prior research has shown that museum visits can reduce stress and anxiety, yet there is a pressing need for evidence-based interventions supported by neurophysiological data. While neuroscientific studies suggest a combined role of emotional and cognitive mechanisms in aesthetic experiences, less is known about the neural predictors of individual responsiveness to such interventions. Methods: This study was conducted in two Milan-based museums and included an initial profiling phase (sociodemographic information, trait anxiety, perceived stress, museum experience), followed by pre- and post-visit assessments of state anxiety and mood. Electrocortical activity was recorded via a portable brain-computer interface (BCI), focusing on the theta/beta ratio (TBR) as a marker of cortical-subcortical integration. Results: Museum visits were associated with significant improvements in mood (M = 1.17; p < 0.001) and reductions in state anxiety (M = -6.36; p < 0.001) in both arts and science museums. The baseline TBR predicted the magnitude of state anxiety change, alongside individual differences in trait anxiety and perceived stress. Conclusions: These findings support the idea that aesthetic experiences in museums engage both emotional and cognitive systems, and that resting state neurophysiological markers can help forecast individual responsiveness to well-being interventions. Such insights not only contribute to existing knowledge about the cognitive and emotional processes during aesthetic fruition, but could also guide future applications of personalized interventions in museum settings, further integrating cultural participation with mental health promotion.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Serna B, Salazar R, Alonso-Silverio GA, et al (2025)

Fear Detection Using Electroencephalogram and Artificial Intelligence: A Systematic Review.

Brain sciences, 15(8): pii:brainsci15080815.

Background/Objectives: Fear detection through EEG signals has gained increasing attention due to its applications in affective computing, mental health monitoring, and intelligent safety systems. This systematic review aimed to identify the most effective methods, algorithms, and configurations reported in the literature for detecting fear from EEG signals using artificial intelligence (AI). Methods: Following the PRISMA 2020 methodology, a structured search was conducted using the string ("fear detection" AND "artificial intelligence" OR "machine learning" AND NOT "fnirs OR mri OR ct OR pet OR image"). After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 relevant studies were selected. Results: The review examined key methodological aspects such as algorithms (e.g., SVM, CNN, Decision Trees), EEG devices (Emotiv, Biosemi), experimental paradigms (videos, interactive games), dominant brainwave bands (beta, gamma, alpha), and electrode placement. Non-linear models, particularly when combined with immersive stimulation, achieved the highest classification accuracy (up to 92%). Beta and gamma frequencies were consistently associated with fear states, while frontotemporal electrode positioning and proprietary datasets further enhanced model performance. Conclusions: EEG-based fear detection using AI demonstrates high potential and rapid growth, offering significant interdisciplinary applications in healthcare, safety systems, and affective computing.

RevDate: 2025-08-28

Chen X, Bao X, Jitian K, et al (2025)

Hybrid EEG Feature Learning Method for Cross-Session Human Mental Attention State Classification.

Brain sciences, 15(8): pii:brainsci15080805.

BACKGROUND: Decoding mental attention states from electroencephalogram (EEG) signals is crucial for numerous applications such as cognitive monitoring, adaptive human-computer interaction, and brain-computer interfaces (BCIs). However, conventional EEG-based approaches often focus on channel-wise processing and are limited to intra-session or subject-specific scenarios, lacking robustness in cross-session or inter-subject conditions.

METHODS: In this study, we propose a hybrid feature learning framework for robust classification of mental attention states, including focused, unfocused, and drowsy conditions, across both sessions and individuals. Our method integrates preprocessing, feature extraction, feature selection, and classification in a unified pipeline. We extract channel-wise spectral features using short-time Fourier transform (STFT) and further incorporate both functional and structural connectivity features to capture inter-regional interactions in the brain. A two-stage feature selection strategy, combining correlation-based filtering and random forest ranking, is adopted to enhance feature relevance and reduce dimensionality. Support vector machine (SVM) is employed for final classification due to its efficiency and generalization capability.

RESULTS: Experimental results on two cross-session and inter-subject EEG datasets demonstrate that our approach achieves classification accuracy of 86.27% and 94.01%, respectively, significantly outperforming traditional methods.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that integrating connectivity-aware features with spectral analysis can enhance the generalizability of attention decoding models. The proposed framework provides a promising foundation for the development of practical EEG-based systems for continuous mental state monitoring and adaptive BCIs in real-world environments.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Chen R, Xie C, Zhang J, et al (2025)

A Progressive Multi-Domain Adaptation Network with Reinforced Self-Constructed Graphs for Cross-Subject EEG-Based Emotion and Consciousness Recognition.

IEEE transactions on neural systems and rehabilitation engineering : a publication of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, PP: [Epub ahead of print].

Electroencephalogram (EEG)-based emotion recognition is a vital component in brain-computer interface applications. However, it faces two significant challenges: (1) extracting domain-invariant features while effectively preserving emotion-related information, and (2) aligning the joint probability distributions of data across different individuals. To address these challenges, we propose a progressive multi-domain adaptation network with reinforced self-constructed graphs. Specifically, we introduce EEG-CutMix to construct unlabeled mixed-domain data, facilitating the transition between source and target domains. Additionally, a reinforced self-constructed graphs module is employed to extract domain-invariant features. Finally, a progressive multi-domain adaptation framework is constructed to smoothly align the data distributions across individuals. Experiments on cross-subject datasets demonstrate that our model achieves state-of-the-art performance on the SEED and SEED-IV datasets, with accuracies of 97.03% ± 1.65% and 88.18% ± 4.55%, respectively. Furthermore, tests on a self-recorded dataset, comprising ten healthy subjects and twelve patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), show that our model achieves a mean accuracy of 86.65% ± 2.28% in healthy subjects. Notably, it successfully applies to DOC patients, with four subjects achieving emotion recognition accuracy exceeding 70%. These results validate the effectiveness of our model in EEG emotion recognition and highlight its potential for assessing consciousness levels in DOC patients. The source code for the proposed model is available at GitHub-seizeall/mycode.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Shaw J, Pyreddy S, Rosendahl C, et al (2025)

Current Neuroethical Perspectives on Deep Brain Stimulation and Neuromodulation for Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Scoping Review of the Past 10 Years.

Diseases (Basel, Switzerland), 13(8):.

BACKGROUND: The use of neuromodulation for the treatment of psychiatric disorders has become increasingly common, but this emerging treatment modality comes with ethical concerns. This scoping review aims to synthesize the neuroethical discourse from the past 10 years on the use of neurotechnologies for psychiatric conditions.

METHODS: A total of 4496 references were imported from PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria required a discussion of the neuroethics of neuromodulation and studies published between 2014 and 2024.

RESULTS: Of the 77 references, a majority discussed ethical concerns of patient autonomy and informed consent for neuromodulation, with neurotechnologies being increasingly seen as autonomy enablers. Concepts of changes in patient identity and personality, especially after deep brain stimulation, were also discussed extensively. The risks and benefits of neurotechnologies were also compared, with deep brain stimulation being seen as the riskiest but also possessing the highest efficacy. Concerns about equitable access and justice were raised regarding the rise of private transcranial magnetic stimulation clinics and the current experimental status of deep brain stimulation.

CONCLUSIONS: Neuroethics discourse, particularly for deep brain stimulation, has continued to focus on how post-intervention changes in personality and behavior influence patient identity. Multiple conceptual frameworks have been proposed, though each faces critiques for addressing only parts of this complex phenomenon, prompting calls for pluralistic models. Emerging technologies, especially those involving artificial intelligence through brain computer interfaces, add new dimensions to this debate by raising concerns about neuroprivacy and legal responsibility for actions, further blurring the lines for defining personal identity.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Gao L, Han L, Ma X, et al (2025)

An Integrated Analysis of Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Elucidates the Role and Mechanism of TRPV4 in Blunt Cardiac Injury.

Metabolites, 15(8):.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) is a severe medical condition that may arise as a result of various traumas, including motor vehicle accidents and falls. The main objective of this study was to explore the role and underlying mechanisms of the TRPV4 gene in BCI. Elucidating the function of TRPV4 in BCI may reveal potential novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of this condition.

METHODS: Rats in each group, including the SD control group (SDCON), the SD blunt-trauma group (SDBT), the TRPV4 gene-knockout control group (KOCON), and the TRPV4 gene-knockout blunt-trauma group (KOBT), were all freely dropped from a fixed height with a weight of 200 g and struck in the left chest with a certain energy, causing BCI. After the experiment, the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-1β were detected to evaluate the inflammatory response. The myocardial tissue structure was observed by HE staining. In addition, cardiac transcriptome analysis was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes, and metabolomics studies were carried out using UHPLC-Q-TOF/MS technology to analyze metabolites. The results of transcriptomics and metabolomics were verified by qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS: Compared with the SDCON group, the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-1β in the SDBT group were significantly increased (p < 0.001), while the levels of serum IL-6 and IL-1β in the KOBT group were significantly decreased (p < 0.001), indicating that the deletion of the TRPV4 gene alleviated the inflammation induced by BCI. HE staining showed that myocardial tissue injury was severe in the SDBT group, while myocardial tissue structure abnormalities were mild in the KOBT group. Transcriptome analysis revealed that there were 1045 upregulated genes and 643 downregulated genes in the KOBT group. These genes were enriched in pathways related to inflammation, apoptosis, and tissue repair, such as p53, apoptosis, AMPK, PPAR, and other signaling pathways. Metabolomics studies have found that TRPV4 regulates nucleotide metabolism, amino-acid metabolism, biotin metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway, fructose and mannose metabolism, etc., in myocardial tissue. The combined analysis of metabolic and transcriptional data reveals that tryptophan metabolism and the protein digestion and absorption pathway may be the key mechanisms. The qRT-PCR results corroborated the expression of key genes identified in the transcriptome sequencing, while Western blot analysis validated the protein expression levels of pivotal regulators within the p53 and AMPK signaling pathways.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the deletion of the TRPV4 gene effectively alleviates cardiac injury by reducing inflammation and tissue damage. These findings suggest that TRPV4 may become a new therapeutic target for BCI, providing new insights for future therapeutic strategies.

RevDate: 2025-08-27
CmpDate: 2025-08-27

Lee J, Han SY, YW Kwon (2025)

Technological Advances and Medical Applications of Implantable Electronic Devices: From the Heart, Brain, and Skin to Gastrointestinal Organs.

Biosensors, 15(8):.

Implantable electronic devices are driving innovation in modern medical technology and have significantly improved patients' quality of life. This review comprehensively analyzes the latest technological trends in implantable electronic devices used in major organs, including the heart, brain, and skin. Additionally, it explores the potential for application in the gastrointestinal system, particularly in the field of biliary stents, in which development has been limited. In the cardiac field, wireless pacemakers, subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices have been commercialized, significantly improving survival rates and quality of life of patients with cardiovascular diseases. In the field of brain-neural interfaces, biocompatible flexible electrodes and closed-loop deep brain stimulation have improved treatments of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and epilepsy. Skin-implantable devices have revolutionized glucose management in patients with diabetes by integrating continuous glucose monitoring and automated insulin delivery systems. Future development of implantable electronic devices incorporating pressure or pH sensors into biliary stents in the gastrointestinal system may significantly improve the prognosis of patients with bile duct cancer. This review systematically organizes the technological advances and clinical outcomes in each field and provides a comprehensive understanding of implantable electronic devices by suggesting future research directions.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Dong L, Xu C, Xie R, et al (2025)

Enhanced SSVEP Bionic Spelling via xLSTM-Based Deep Learning with Spatial Attention and Filter Bank Techniques.

Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland), 10(8):.

Steady-State Visual Evoked Potentials (SSVEPs) have emerged as an efficient means of interaction in brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), achieving bioinspired efficient language output for individuals with aphasia. Addressing the underutilization of frequency information of SSVEPs and redundant computation by existing transformer-based deep learning methods, this paper analyzes signals from both the time and frequency domains, proposing a stacked encoder-decoder (SED) network architecture based on an xLSTM model and spatial attention mechanism, termed SED-xLSTM, which firstly applies xLSTM to the SSVEP speller field. This model takes the low-channel spectrogram as input and employs the filter bank technique to make full use of harmonic information. By leveraging a gating mechanism, SED-xLSTM effectively extracts and fuses high-dimensional spatial-channel semantic features from SSVEP signals. Experimental results on three public datasets demonstrate the superior performance of SED-xLSTM in terms of classification accuracy and information transfer rate, particularly outperforming existing methods under cross-validation across various temporal scales.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Rusev G, Yordanov S, Nedelcheva S, et al (2025)

NEuroMOrphic Neural-Response Decoding System for Adaptive and Personalized Neuro-Prosthetics' Control.

Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland), 10(8):.

In our previous work, we developed a neuromorphic decoder of intended movements of tetraplegic patients using ECoG recordings from the brain motor cortex, called Motor Control Decoder (MCD). Even though the training data are labeled based on the desired movement, there is no guarantee that the patient is satisfied by the action of the effectors. Hence, the need for the classification of brain signals as satisfactory/unsatisfactory is obvious. Based on previous work, we upgrade our neuromorphic MCD with a Neural Response Decoder (NRD) that is intended to predict whether ECoG data are satisfactory or not in order to improve MCD accuracy. The main aim is to design an actor-critic structure able to adapt via reinforcement learning the MCD (actor) based on NRD (critic) predictions. For this aim, NRD was trained using not only an ECoG signal but also the MCD prediction or prescribed intended movement of the patient. The achieved accuracy of the trained NRD is satisfactory and contributes to improved MCD performance. However, further work has to be carried out to fully utilize the NRD for MCD performance optimization in an on-line manner. Possibility to include feedback from the patient would allow for further improvement of MCD-NRD accuracy.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Zare Lahijan L, Meshgini S, Afrouzian R, et al (2025)

Improved Automatic Deep Model for Automatic Detection of Movement Intention from EEG Signals.

Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland), 10(8):.

Automated movement intention is crucial for brain-computer interface (BCI) applications. The automatic identification of movement intention can assist patients with movement problems in regaining their mobility. This study introduces a novel approach for the automatic identification of movement intention through finger tapping. This work has compiled a database of EEG signals derived from left finger taps, right finger taps, and a resting condition. Following the requisite pre-processing, the captured signals are input into the proposed model, which is constructed based on graph theory and deep convolutional networks. In this study, we introduce a novel architecture based on six deep convolutional graph layers, specifically designed to effectively capture and extract essential features from EEG signals. The proposed model demonstrates a remarkable performance, achieving an accuracy of 98% in a binary classification task when distinguishing between left and right finger tapping. Furthermore, in a more complex three-class classification scenario, which includes left finger tapping, right finger tapping, and an additional class, the model attains an accuracy of 92%. These results highlight the effectiveness of the architecture in decoding motor-related brain activity from EEG data. Furthermore, relative to recent studies, the suggested model exhibits significant resilience in noisy situations, making it suitable for online BCI applications.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Ortega-Robles E, Carino-Escobar RI, Cantillo-Negrete J, et al (2025)

Brain-Computer Interfaces in Parkinson's Disease Rehabilitation.

Biomimetics (Basel, Switzerland), 10(8):.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurological disorder with motor and non-motor symptoms that are inadequately addressed by current pharmacological and surgical therapies. Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), particularly those based on electroencephalography (eBCIs), provide a promising, non-invasive approach to personalized neurorehabilitation. This narrative review explores the clinical potential of BCIs in PD, discussing signal acquisition, processing, and control paradigms. eBCIs are well-suited for PD due to their portability, safety, and real-time feedback capabilities. Emerging neurophysiological biomarkers-such as beta-band synchrony, phase-amplitude coupling, and altered alpha-band activity-may support adaptive therapies, including adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS), as well as motor and cognitive interventions. BCIs may also aid in diagnosis and personalized treatment by detecting these cortical and subcortical patterns associated with motor and cognitive dysfunction in PD. A structured search identified 11 studies involving 64 patients with PD who used BCIs for aDBS, neurofeedback, and cognitive rehabilitation, showing improvements in motor function, cognition, and engagement. Clinical translation requires attention to electrode design and user-centered interfaces. Ethical issues, including data privacy and equitable access, remain critical challenges. As wearable technologies and artificial intelligence evolve, BCIs could shift PD care from intermittent interventions to continuous, brain-responsive therapy, potentially improving patients' quality of life and autonomy. This review highlights BCIs as a transformative tool in PD management, although more robust clinical evidence is needed.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Gartner MJ, Smith ML, Dapat C, et al (2025)

Contemporary seasonal human coronaviruses display differences in cellular tropism compared to laboratory-adapted reference strains.

Journal of virology [Epub ahead of print].

Seasonal human coronaviruses (sHCoVs) cause 15%-30% of common colds. The reference strains used for research were isolated decades ago and have been passaged extensively, but contemporary sHCoVs have been challenging to study as they are notoriously difficult to grow in standard immortalized cell lines. Here, we addressed these issues by utilizing primary human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) and immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BCi) differentiated at an air-liquid interface, as well as human embryonic stem cell-derived alveolar type II (AT2) cells to recover contemporary sHCoVs from human nasopharyngeal specimens. From 21 specimens, we recovered four HCoV-229e, three HCoV-NL63, and eight HCoV-OC43 viruses. All contemporary sHCoVs showed sequence differences from lab-adapted CoVs, particularly within the spike gene. Evidence of nucleotide changes in the receptor binding domains within HCoV-229e and detection of recombination for both HCoV-229e and HCoV-OC43 isolates was also observed. Importantly, we developed methods for the amplification of high-titer stocks of HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-229e that maintained sequence identity, and we established methods for the titration of contemporary sHCoV isolates. Comparison of lab-adapted and contemporary strains in immortalized cell lines and airway epithelial cells revealed differences in cell tropism, growth kinetics, and cytokine production between lab-adapted and contemporary sHCoV strains. These data confirm that contemporary sHCoVs differ from lab-adapted reference strains and, using the methods established here, should be used for the study of CoV biology and evaluation of medical countermeasures.IMPORTANCEZoonotic coronaviruses have caused significant public health emergencies. The occurrence of a similar spillover event in the future is likely, and efforts to further understand coronavirus biology should be a high priority. Several seasonal coronaviruses circulate within the human population. Efforts to study these viruses have been limited to reference strains isolated decades ago due to the difficulty in isolating clinical isolates. Here, we use human airway and alveolar epithelial cultures to recover contemporary isolates of human coronaviruses HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229e, and HCoV-OC43. We establish methods to make high-titer stocks and titrate HCoV-229e and HCoV-NL63 isolates. We show that contemporary isolates of HCoV-NL63 and HCoV-OC43 have a different tropism within the respiratory epithelium compared to lab-adapted strains. Although HCoV-229e clinical and lab-adapted strains similarly infect the respiratory epithelium, differences in host response and replication kinetics are observed. Using the methods developed here, future research should include contemporary isolates when studying coronavirus biology.

RevDate: 2025-08-27

Zhang L, Guan X, Wang D, et al (2025)

Understanding face processing in autism spectrum disorder: insights from cognitive neuroscience.

Cognitive neurodynamics, 19(1):137.

Faces convey critical information for social communication, such as identity, expression, and eye gaze. Unfortunately, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience difficulties in processing this information, and these deficits lead to their suffering from social interactions. Importantly, since face processing is a social skill developed during early childhood, its deficits may be an early symptom of ASD. In recent years, researchers have made great progress in identifying face processing impairments in individuals with ASD and exploring their biological underpinnings. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress on face processing impairments in individuals with ASD. Moreover, we mainly summarized the mechanisms proposed to underlie these impairments, including the changes in brain structure and function, atypical social cognition, and genetic variation. Finally, we discussed the factors leading to the inconsistent results of existing studies. Focused efforts to research the alterations and mechanisms of face processing might improve our knowledge of this complex, heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder. The ultimate purpose is to help clinical diagnosis and treatment, thereby improving the function of individuals with ASD.

RevDate: 2025-08-27
CmpDate: 2025-08-27

He J, Yuan Z, Quan L, et al (2025)

Multimodal assessment of a BCI system for stroke rehabilitation integrating motor imagery and motor attempts: a randomized controlled trial.

Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 22(1):185 pii:10.1186/s12984-025-01723-8.

BACKGROUND: Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology based on motor imagery (MI) or motor attempt (MA) has shown promise in enhancing motor function recovery in stroke patients. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of BCI-based rehabilitation in improving motor function through multimodal assessment, and to explore the potential neuroplastic changes resulting from this intervention.

METHODS: We conducted a randomized double-blind controlled clinical trial with multimodal assessment to evaluate the efficacy of a BCI system for enhancing motor recovery. A total of 48 ischemic stroke patients completed the study (25 BCI, 23 control). The BCI group used an 8-electrode electroencephalogram (EEG) system, a virtual reality training module, and a rehabilitation training robot for real-time motor intention-based feedback. The control group used identical BCI devices but without displaying real-time data and feedback. Participants underwent 20-minute upper and lower limb training sessions for two weeks. Motor function (Fugl-Meyer Extremity scale), electromyography (EMG), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) were assessed pre- and post-intervention.

RESULTS: The BCI group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in upper extremity motor function compared to the control group (ΔFMA-UE: 4.0 vs. 2.0, p = 0.046). EEG results of the BCI group showed a significant decrease in both DAR (p = 0.031) and DABR (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. EMG analysis revealed that BCI treatment resulted in significant increases in deltoid and bicipital muscle activity during both shoulder and elbow flexion movements compared to baseline (p < 0.01). fNIRS results indicated enhanced functional connectivity and activation in key motor-related brain regions, including the prefrontal cortex, supplementary motor area, and primary motor cortex in the BCI group.

CONCLUSION: BCI-based rehabilitation using an attention-motor dual-task paradigm significantly improved upper limb motor function and enhanced motor and cognitive network activity in stroke patients. Multimodal assessment supports the potential of BCI rehabilitation as an effective tool for leveraging neuroplasticity and promoting motor recovery.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Cui Y, Sun J, Zhang B, et al (2025)

Efficacy and safety of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation for patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia with predominantly negative symptoms: a randomized clinical trial and efficacy sensitivity biomarkers.

Molecular psychiatry [Epub ahead of print].

Negative symptoms in treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) are notably persistent and minimally affected by antipsychotics, the transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) is a promising treatment approach. However, clinical trials are scarce, and further efficacy data are needed. We conducted a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial to determine the efficacy and safety of taVNS as an add-on treatment for patients with TRS with predominantly negative symptoms and to investigate potential biomarkers of efficacy. A total of 50 patients underwent a two-week intervention of active taVNS (n = 25) or sham taVNS (n = 25), followed by a two-week follow-up. Primary outcome was the change in the PANSS-factor score for negative symptoms (PANSS-FSNS) assessed after the intervention. In the intention-to-treat analysis, patients receiving active taVNS showed a significantly greater improvement in negative symptoms compared with those receiving the sham procedure (PANSS-FSNS difference, -1.36; effect size, -0.62; 95% CI, -1.20 to -0.04; p = 0.033), with effects sustained at follow-up and good tolerability. Inflammatory cytokines and EEG coherence showed that in the active group, the change in PANSS-FSNS scores after treatment was significantly correlated with changes in tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α (r = 0.56, corrected p = 0.017) and beta-band coherence between the left frontal and parietal regions (r = -0.56, p = 0.004), but not in the sham group. This study suggests that taVNS may effectively and safely ameliorate negative symptoms in TRS, with TNF-α and beta-band coherence between the left frontal and parietal regions as potential sensitivity efficacy biomarkers. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn .), ChiCTR2400085198.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Hu Y, Liu Y, Hou Y, et al (2025)

Dataset of natural conversations about appearance using fNIRS.

Scientific data, 12(1):1486 pii:10.1038/s41597-025-05574-9.

Self-objectification, marked by an overemphasis on how one's appearance is viewed by others, promotes increased body surveillance and dissatisfaction. Natural conversations centered around appearance, such as "fat talk"-where individuals, often women, engage in negative or self-deprecating remarks about their bodies or weight-are commonly used to induce a state of self-objectification. However, there is a notable lack of public datasets on brain signals during fat talk. In this dataset, we collected brain data from 31 female participants (aged 19.55 ± 0.89 years) using a 40-channel portable near-infrared device during fat talk and non-fat talk (topics such as travel and home decoration), primarily covering the frontal and parietal areas. Data analyses of subjective reports and fNIRS data revealed an increase in body surveillance and dissatisfaction, suggesting a significant activation of the self-objectification state. This dataset can be utilized to explore fNIRS data processing during natural interpersonal conversations and to gain insights into emotional and cognitive responses under conditions of self-dysregulation.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Tong JQ, Binder JR, Conant LL, et al (2025)

A Common Representational Code for Event and Object Concepts in the Brain.

The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience pii:JNEUROSCI.2166-24.2025 [Epub ahead of print].

Events and objects are two fundamental ways in which humans conceptualize their experience of the world. Despite the significance of this distinction for human cognition, it remains unclear whether the neural representations of object and event concepts are categorically distinct or, instead, can be explained in terms of a shared representational code. We investigated this question by analyzing fMRI data acquired from human participants (males and females) while they rated their familiarity with the meanings of individual words (all nouns) denoting object and event concepts. Multivoxel pattern analyses indicated that both categories of lexical concepts are represented in overlapping fashion throughout the association cortex, even in the areas that showed the strongest selectivity for one or the other type in univariate contrasts. Crucially, in these areas, a feature-based model trained on neural responses to individual event concepts successfully decoded object concepts from their corresponding activation patterns (and vice versa), showing that these two categories share a common representational code. This code was effectively modeled by a set of experiential feature ratings, which also accounted for the mean activation differences between these two categories. These results indicate that neuroanatomical dissociations between events and objects emerge from quantitative differences in the cortical distribution of more fundamental features of experience. Characterizing this representational code is an important step in the development of theory-driven brain-computer interface technologies capable of decoding conceptual content directly from brain activity.Significance Statement We investigated how word meaning is encoded in the brain by examining the neural representations of individual lexical concepts from two distinct categories-objects and events. We found that both kinds of concepts were encoded in neural activity patterns in terms of a shared representational space characterized by different modalities of perceptual and emotional experience. This indicates that individual concepts from a wide variety of semantic categories can, at least in principle, be decoded from neural activity using a generative model of concept representation based on interpretable semantic features. Furthermore, both object and event concepts could be decoded from cortical regions previously hypothesized to encode category-specific representations, suggesting that the two categories are jointly represented in these areas.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Hu W, Zhang D, W Chen (2025)

ITSEF: Inception-based two-stage ensemble framework for P300 detection.

Neural networks : the official journal of the International Neural Network Society, 193:108014 pii:S0893-6080(25)00894-9 [Epub ahead of print].

To address the problems of low signal-to-noise ratio, significant individual differences between subjects, and class imbalance in P300-based brain-computer interface (BCI), this paper proposes a novel Inception-based two-stage ensemble framework (ITSEF) to improve detection accuracy. Firstly, an Inception-based convolutional neural network (ICNN) is designed to extract multi-scale features and conduct cross-channel learning. In addition, a two-stage ensemble framework (TSEF) combined with a pre-training and fine-tuning strategy is developed, aiming to enhance the classification performance of the minority class and improve the generalization ability of the model. The framework comprises a conventional learning branch and a re-balancing branch, each based on an ICNN pre-trained with a different loss function. The prediction results of both branches are dynamically weighted by a cumulative learning strategy, so that the model gradually shifts its learning focus from the majority class to the minority class, comprehensively improving the identification ability for both classes. Experimental results on two datasets, Dataset II of BCI Competition III and BCIAUT-P300, demonstrate that the proposed ITSEF achieves state-of-the-art performance in the P300 classification task, with average classification accuracies of 86.16 % and 92.13 %, respectively. Compared with the existing state-of-the-art methods, the ITSEF achieves improvements of 4.61 % and 1.01 % on the two datasets, respectively. Furthermore, it exhibits significant improvements compared to baseline models and widely used class re-balancing strategies. The proposed ITSEF method provides an innovative deep learning framework for P300 signal analysis and has application potential in the field of P300-BCI.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Golabchi A, Wu B, Du ZJ, et al (2025)

Long-Term Neural Recording Performance of PEDOT/CNT/Dexamethasone Coated Electrode Array Implanted in Visual Cortex of Rats.

Advanced nanobiomed research [Epub ahead of print].

Implantable neural electrode arrays can be inserted in the brain to provide single-cell electrophysiology recording for neuroscience research and brain-machine interface applications. However, maintaining signal quality over time is complicated by inflammatory tissue responses and degradation of electrode materials. Organic electrode coatings offer a solution by enhancing recording and stimulation capabilities, including reduced impedance, increased charge injection capacity, and the ability to incorporate and release anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study, acid-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) loaded with dexamethasone (Dex) were incorporated into poly (3,4-ethylendioxythiophene) (PEDOT) as electrode coatings. We investigated the electrochemical stability and recording performance of the PEDOT/CNT/Dex coating over an extended period of approximately 18 months. Cyclic voltammetric (CV) stimulation was used to trigger Dex release in half of the recording sites during the first 11 days of implantation to reduce the acute inflammation. The PEDOT/CNT/Dex coated floating microelectrode arrays demonstrated stable in vivo electrode impedance and successful detection of visually evoked neural activity from the rat visual cortex even at chronic time points. Additionally, the CV-stimulated sites exhibited higher single-unit recording yield, amplitudes, and signal-to-noise ratio compared to unstimulated sites. These results highlight the potential of anti-inflammatory treatments to improve the quality and longevity of chronic neural recordings.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Zhao B, Huggins JE, J Kang (2025)

Bayesian Inference on Brain-Computer Interfaces via GLASS.

Journal of the American Statistical Association [Epub ahead of print].

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), particularly the P300 BCI, facilitate direct communication between the brain and computers. The fundamental statistical problem in P300 BCIs lies in classifying target and non-target stimuli based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. However, the low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and complex spatial/temporal correlations of EEG signals present challenges in modeling and computation, especially for individuals with severe physical disabilities-BCI's primary users. To address these challenges, we introduce a novel Gaussian Latent channel model with Sparse time-varying effects (GLASS) under a Bayesian framework. GLASS is built upon a constrained multinomial logistic regression particularly designed for the imbalanced target and non-target stimuli. The novel latent channel decomposition efficiently alleviates strong spatial correlations between EEG channels, while the soft-thresholded Gaussian process (STGP) prior ensures sparse and smooth time-varying effects. We demonstrate GLASS substantially improves BCI's performance in participants with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and identifies important EEG channels (PO8, Oz, PO7, and Pz) in parietal and occipital regions that align with existing literature. For broader accessibility, we develop an efficient gradient-based variational inference (GBVI) algorithm for posterior computation and provide a user-friendly Python module available at https://github.com/BangyaoZhao/GLASS.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Arns M, Sokhadze E, N Birbaumer (2025)

Neurofeedback and Brain-Machine Interfaces: Where are We Now?.

RevDate: 2025-08-26
CmpDate: 2025-08-26

Yuan Y, Gao Z, W Xiao (2025)

The Role of Oxytocin in Parental Care.

Endocrinology, 166(9):.

Parental behaviors are essential for offspring survival and shaped by hormonal changes and adaptations in the neural circuits. Oxytocin, a nonapeptide, has been shown to play an important role in promoting parental behaviors. Using cutting-edge tools, studies have recently uncovered how oxytocin mediates parental behaviors through modulation of different neural circuits. We highlight recent advances in identifying neural pathways contributing to the role of oxytocin in parental care, focusing on how infant-related cues activate the oxytocin system and how oxytocin enhances the salience of sensory cues to enable parental behaviors in this review. We also discuss future challenges to further elucidate mechanisms involved.

RevDate: 2025-08-25
CmpDate: 2025-08-26

Xiao Q, Fan LH, Ma Q, et al (2025)

Secure wireless communication of brain-computer interface and mind control of smart devices enabled by space-time-coding metasurface.

Nature communications, 16(1):7914.

Brain-computer interface (BCI) provides an interconnected pathway between the human brain and external devices and paves a potential route for mind manipulations. However, most existing BCI technologies are based on simple signal transmission and are independent of other interface devices, with limited consideration for the reliability and security of the human brain's information interaction in complicated wireless environments. Here, we propose a deep fusion coding scheme that combines the BCI visual stimulation coding with metasurface space-time coding at the physical layer, enabling reliable and secure information transfers between the human brain and external devices. A brain space-time-coding metasurface platform is designed to implement a secure wireless communication system by using harmonic-encrypted beams. We design and fabricate a proof-of-principle prototype and experimentally show that the proposed wireless BCI scheme can establish a remote but safeguarded paradigm for human-machine interactions and intelligent metasurfaces, providing a potential direction in future secure wireless communications.

RevDate: 2025-08-26

Johnson KA, Cagle JN, Lopes JL, et al (2023)

Globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation evokes resonant neural activity in Parkinson's disease.

Brain communications, 5(2):fcad025.

Globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation is an established therapy for patients with medication-refractory Parkinson's disease. Clinical outcomes are highly dependent on applying stimulation to precise locations in the brain. However, robust neurophysiological markers are needed to determine the optimal electrode location and to guide postoperative stimulation parameter selection. In this study, we evaluated evoked resonant neural activity in the pallidum as a potential intraoperative marker to optimize targeting and stimulation parameter selection to improve outcomes of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease. Intraoperative local field potential recordings were acquired in 22 patients with Parkinson's disease undergoing globus pallidus internus deep brain stimulation implantation (N = 27 hemispheres). A control group of patients undergoing implantation in the subthalamic nucleus (N = 4 hemispheres) for Parkinson's disease or the thalamus for essential tremor (N = 9 patients) were included for comparison. High-frequency (135 Hz) stimulation was delivered from each electrode contact sequentially while recording the evoked response from the other contacts. Low-frequency stimulation (10 Hz) was also applied as a comparison. Evoked resonant neural activity features, including amplitude, frequency and localization were measured and analysed for correlation with empirically derived postoperative therapeutic stimulation parameters. Pallidal evoked resonant neural activity elicited by stimulation in the globus pallidus internus or externus was detected in 26 of 27 hemispheres and varied across hemispheres and across stimulating contacts within individual hemispheres. Bursts of high-frequency stimulation elicited evoked resonant neural activity with similar amplitudes (P = 0.9) but a higher frequency (P = 0.009) and a higher number of peaks (P = 0.004) than low-frequency stimulation. We identified a 'hotspot' in the postero-dorsal pallidum where stimulation elicited higher evoked resonant neural activity amplitudes (P < 0.001). In 69.6% of hemispheres, the contact that elicited the maximum amplitude intraoperatively matched the contact empirically selected for chronic therapeutic stimulation by an expert clinician after 4 months of programming sessions. Pallidal and subthalamic nucleus evoked resonant neural activity were similar except for lower pallidal amplitudes. No evoked resonant neural activity was detected in the essential tremor control group. Given its spatial topography and correlation with postoperative stimulation parameters empirically selected by expert clinicians, pallidal evoked resonant neural activity shows promise as a potential marker to guide intraoperative targeting and to assist the clinician with postoperative stimulation programming. Importantly, evoked resonant neural activity may also have the potential to guide directional and closed-loop deep brain stimulation programming for Parkinson's disease.

RevDate: 2025-08-25

Wang S, Yang Y, Hao S, et al (2025)

Glutamatergic Periaqueductal Gray Projections to the Locus Coeruleus Orchestrate Adaptive Arousal States in Threatening Contexts.

Neuroscience bulletin [Epub ahead of print].

The locus coeruleus (LC), a norepinephrine nucleus governing arousal states through tonic activity, requires precise regulatory mechanisms to maintain its dynamic activation levels. However, the neural circuitry underlying LC activity maintenance remains unclear. Here, we identify a glutamatergic projection from the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) to the LC in mice as a critical regulator of arousal dynamics. Fiber photometry recordings revealed stress-induced Ca[2+] dynamics in vlPAG[CaMKIIα]-LC axon terminals across diverse threat paradigms. Slice electrophysiology demonstrated that this pathway mediates LC-norepinephrine (LC-NE) neuronal activity via glutamatergic transmission. Low-frequency pathway activation (1 Hz) mainly induced anxiety-like behaviors, whereas high-frequency stimulation (10 Hz) evoked more panic-like hyperlocomotion, establishing a frequency-dependent continuum of arousal states. Conversely, pathway inhibition reduced pupil size, a reliable biomarker for arousal, concurrently suppressing threat avoidance behaviors and alleviating anxiety-related behaviors without altering environmental preference. These findings reveal that the vlPAG[CaMKIIα]-LC pathway maintains baseline arousal while dynamically scaling threat-induced hyperarousal.

RevDate: 2025-08-25

Rahman MM, Banik N, Sunny MSH, et al (2025)

Wheelchair-mounted robotic arms: a systematic review of technical design and activities of daily living outcomes.

Disability and rehabilitation. Assistive technology [Epub ahead of print].

PURPOSE: This review examines wheelchair-mounted robotic arms (WMRAs) as an emerging assistive technology that enhances independence and quality of life for individuals with upper- and lower-limb disabilities. By enabling independent performance of activities of daily living (ADLs), WMRAs hold significant promise for disability and rehabilitation. The article aims to critically evaluate the state of the art in WMRA research and development, identifying persistent challenges and highlighting promising innovations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The review systematically analyzes literature on WMRAs published between 2001 and 2025. The analysis emphasizes design specifications, degrees of freedom, actuation methods, control strategies, and performance evaluations. A comparative synthesis is conducted to assess how existing systems support ADL execution, while also integrating technical considerations with user-centered outcomes.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that current WMRA designs face significant limitations, including restricted workspace coverage, inadequate gripper dexterity, suboptimal kinematic configurations, limited payload capacity, high cost, and lack of modularity. Safety mechanisms remain underdeveloped, creating barriers to broader adoption. Nevertheless, advancements in AI-driven control systems, modular design strategies, and integration with complementary assistive technologies demonstrate promising progress. The review concludes that WMRAs have substantial potential to improve autonomy and daily functioning for individuals with disabilities. Addressing technical and practical shortcomings is essential to ensure successful real-world deployment. These insights contribute to disability and rehabilitation research, as they highlight pathways to enhance accessibility, safety, and cost-effectiveness in assistive technologies that support independent living.

RevDate: 2025-08-25

Zubayr MO, Obimakinde AM, OA Popoola (2025)

PARENTAL RESPONSE AND COPING STRATEGIES FOR ADOLESCENTS' BEHAVIOURAL PROBLEMS: A COMMUNITY-BASED CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Annals of Ibadan postgraduate medicine, 23(1):15-23.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent behavioural problems can be burdensome for parental figures. The lack of good parental responses and coping strategies may worsen adolescent mental health issues. Research in this domain can be informative for effective management of adolescents' behavioural problems in resourcelimited settings like Nigeria.

AIM: We assessed parental responses and coping strategies for adolescents with behavioural problems.

METHODS: A cross-sectional community-based survey with cluster sampling was conducted. Coping strategies were assessed using the Brief Cope Inventory (BCI), dichotomized into Emotional-Based Strategies (EBS) and Problem- Based Strategies (PBS) coping. The Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) assessed adolescent behavioural problems. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

RESULTS: Four hundred and ten (410) parental figures of adolescents aged 14.8±2.3 years were recruited. Parental response to adolescent problem behaviours included corporal punishment in 44% and few (5.8%) sought medical or spiritual help for the adolescent. The most deployed parental coping strategy was 'active' coping (69%) while 'instrumental support' was the least adopted coping strategy. The age, gender, educational level and income of parental figures, were associated with the choice of utilizing PBS coping.

CONCLUSION: Parental figures employed more corporal punishment and utilized active coping, and planning as coping strategies when dealing with adolescents' problem behaviours. Interventions to discourage corporal punishment and promote more effective parental coping are needed.

RevDate: 2025-08-25

Chen L, Yang T, Liu R, et al (2025)

Sensory and neural responses to flavor compound 3-Methylbutanal in dry fermented sausages: Enhancing perceived overall aroma.

Food chemistry: X, 29:102769.

This study investigated the impact of 3-methylbutanal (0, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 μg/kg) on aroma and neural responses in fermented sausages. Among 33 volatiles identified, 3-methylbutanal exhibited the highest odor activity value of 868, indicating its dominant contribution. Sensory analysis showed that samples with 180 μg/kg received the highest ratings for savory (7.0), caramelized (7.1), and nutty (4.4) notes, whereas the 300 μg/kg group showed the lowest overall aroma intensity. EEG analysis indicated global power and α-band activity peaked at 180 μg/kg, increasing by 65.8 % and 73.2 % over baseline, then declined at higher doses. Time-resolved topographies showed odor decoding began at 100 ms and peaked at 500 ms. Source localization identified increased activity in dorsolateral, orbitofrontal, and ventromedial prefrontal cortices at 180 μg/kg. These results demonstrate that moderate levels of 3-methylbutanal enhance aroma perception and evoke heightened neural activity in brain regions associated with olfactory processing and emotion.

RevDate: 2025-08-25

An J, Goyal P, Luft AR, et al (2025)

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy short-channel regression improves cortical activation estimates of working memory load.

Neurophotonics, 12(3):035009.

SIGNIFICANCE: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a noninvasive technique commonly used to examine cognitive functions such as working memory (WM). However, fNIRS signals are often interfered with by extracerebral activity, such as scalp hemodynamics. Short separation channels (SSCs) allow direct measurement of these signals. Short-channel regression (SCR) is widely used to reduce scalp interference, but its added value in WM paradigms remains underexplored.

AIM: We aimed to examine the effect of SCR on improving the validity of fNIRS measurements for WM load (WML).

APPROACH: We used the N -Back task to induce WML-dependent brain activation by varying the " n " level. Data from 20 participants were collected using fNIRS with SSC. Hemodynamic responses were analyzed with generalized linear models and linear mixed models to assess SCR's effect on the sensitivity of cortical activation measures.

RESULTS: SCR enhanced the statistical effects of N -Back levels on measured hemodynamic responses at both group and subject levels, improving the validity and sensitivity of fNIRS.

CONCLUSIONS: SCR improves fNIRS measurement sensitivity and validity, even in tasks with minimal motor requirements.

RevDate: 2025-08-24

Zhang X, Y Yang (2025)

Gut: The gate and key to brain.

Chinese medical journal [Epub ahead of print].

Brain science is the frontier of modern science, and new advances have been made in brain-like designs and brain-computer interfaces to simulate or develop brain functions. However, given that the brain is hermetically sealed within the skull, exploration and deciphering of the brain structure and functions are limited. Growing evidence suggests that the gut is not just a digestive organ. It not only provides essential nutrients and electrolytes for brain neurodevelopment and the maintenance of brain function, but it also transmits external environmental and intestinal wall signals from the intestinal lumen to the central nervous system through multiple pathways to regulate brain activity, function, and structure. A variety of gut-brain interaction pathways have been identified, including neural pathways, neuroimmune signaling, endocrine pathways, and biochemical messengers produced by gut microbes. Gut microbes interact with food and the gut to modulate gut-brain communication. The gut's important role and potential in neurodevelopment, maintenance of normal function, and disease development make it an increasingly important area of research in brain science and neuropsychiatric disorders. The gut's unique role in brain functions and its accessibility for research (compared to direct brain studies) establish it as a critical gate to understanding the mysteries of brain science. Crucially, intestinal nutrients and microbes provide two unique keys to unlock this gate-enabling neural regulation and novel treatments for neuropsychiatric diseases.

RevDate: 2025-08-24

Li J, Zhang W, Liao Y, et al (2025)

Neural decoding reliability: Breakthroughs and potential of brain-computer interfaces technologies in the treatment of neurological diseases.

Physics of life reviews, 55:1-40 pii:S1571-0645(25)00126-5 [Epub ahead of print].

Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and epilepsy frequently result in irreversible disability. Brain-computer interface (BCI) technologies offer the promise of recovering or replacing impaired sensory, motor, and cognitive functions by directly stimulating cortical activity or by converting self-generated cortical activity into commands for external assistive devices. In-depth studies of cerebral cortex connectivity, function and neural hierarchical coding mechanisms can provide novel solutions for BCI-based treatments. This review summarizes the fundamental principles and history of BCI technology and current research progress, including the utilization of known cortical functions and the potential impact of newly discovered cortical functions on the future development of BCI-based applications. The article then systematically reviews the application of BCI technology for the treatment of motor, cognitive, and psychiatric disorders, innovative uses of hydrogels and carbon nanomaterials in BCI systems, and the current limitations and future research directions of BCI systems with respect to the reliability of neural decoding. This article aims to provide clinicians and researchers with the latest progress and a comprehensive overview of BCI applications for diagnosing and treating neurological diseases from in-depth studies on cerebral cortex structure and function, and to propose potential future applications based on interdisciplinary approaches, especially in enhancing the reliability of neural decoding.

RevDate: 2025-08-23

Weng Y, He B, Zhou J, et al (2025)

Potential saviour of pulmonary fibrosis: multi-pathway treatment of natural products.

Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology, 147:157174 pii:S0944-7113(25)00813-X [Epub ahead of print].

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF), a terminal manifestation of diverse interstitial lung diseases, remains incompletely understood in its pathogenesis. Natural products possess multifaceted biological activities and relatively favorable safety profiles, showing great advantage in treating complex disease including PF, though bioavailability limitations require formulation optimization.

PURPOSE: This review systematically consolidates insights into the underlying mechanisms of natural products and prospects several promising targets for the treatment of PF.

METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and specialized pharmacology texts using key terms related to pulmonary fibrosis, natural products (e.g., alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins), inflammation, and oxidative stress. The information was reviewed to emphasize the potential mechanisms of natural products in the treatment of PF.

RESULTS: Natural products ameliorate PF through multi-pathway interventions, including suppression of inflammation, antagonism of oxidative stress, inhibition of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, targeting of fibroblast activation, modulation of metabolic homeostasis, promotion of autophagy and repression of senescence and apoptosis. These effects are mediated by modulating intricate pathways such as the TGF-β1/SMAD, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NOX4-Nrf2, AMPK, NF-κB and STAT3 signaling pathways. In addition, the toxicology and side effects of natural products for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis, and various clinical questions and limitations are discussed.

CONCLUSION: These unveiling mechanisms provide robust support for the exploration of novel applications of existing medications. This review aims to contribute novel insights towards the further studies of natural products for the prevention and treatment of PF.

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Rajesh Rao has written the perfect introduction to the exciting world of brain-computer interfaces. The book is remarkably comprehensive — not only including full descriptions of classic and current experiments but also covering essential background concepts, from the brain to Bayes and back. Brain-Computer Interfacing will be welcomed by a wide range of intelligent readers interested in understanding the first steps toward the symbiotic merger of brains and computers. Eberhard E. Fetz, UW

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