Gold electrodes measure brain activity precisely and gently

Previous electrodes used in neurological patients can stimulate the brain, but cannot measure it precisely enough. The new development from Zurich is based on fine gold fibers that are implanted in the brain. In contrast to conventional, rather coarse electrodes, these flexible probes are as thin as the projections of the nerve cells. As a result, they do not cause any detectable damage to the brain tissue.

Advantages of the flexible electrodes:

• Biocompatible and gentle on tissue
• High signal quality with low background noise
• Suitable for long-term measurements without tissue damage
• Precise measurement of brain activity over longer periods of time

First successes in animal experiments

The researchers successfully tested the new probes on rats. They were able to record the activity of nerve cells over several months without impairing brain function. This technique is particularly promising for the investigation of complex brain processes, such as the processing of memories or the synchronous interaction of nerve cells.

Application planned for various diseases and disorders

In collaboration with University College London, the team from Zurich would soon like to use the technology in epilepsy patients. It could help to localize affected brain regions more precisely before an operation. This would allow the affected areas of the brain to be removed more gently, which would offer greater treatment safety for those affected. This innovation could be an important step towards the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases.

In the future, the electrodes could also stimulate brain cells in humans, for example in people with depression, schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder. “This could contribute to the development of effective therapies for people with neurological and psychiatric diseases,” says Professor Yanik.

COMPAMED-tradefair.com; Source: ETH Zürich