An electroencephalogram microdisplay to visualize neuronal activity on the brain surface.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Current functional mapping in brain surgery relies on time-consuming verbal communication.
• Existing electrode grids offer low resolution and poor conformity to the brain surface.
• There is a need for improved methods for real-time visualization of brain activity and pathological boundaries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate an intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG)-microdisplay for enhanced surgical guidance.
• To enable real-time visualization of cortical activity and pathological brain regions.
• To improve the resolution and conformity of brain activity monitoring during surgery.

Main Methods:

• Development of freestanding arrays of 2048 GaN light-emitting diodes laminated on micro-electrocorticography electrode grids.
• Proof-of-concept experiments conducted in rat and pig models.
• Real-time iEEG recordings and spatial light pattern display on the brain surface.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated real-time iEEG recordings and visualization of cortical activities via light patterns.
• Successfully identified and displayed cortical landmarks and pathological activities in animal models.
• Utilized dual-color iEEG-microdisplay for coregistration of functional boundaries and epileptiform activity.

Conclusions:

• The iEEG-microdisplay offers a promising tool for real-time monitoring of pathological brain activity in clinical settings.
• This technology has the potential to enhance the precision and efficiency of functional brain mapping during surgery.
• Improved visualization of brain activity can aid in defining critical functional areas and pathological boundaries, reducing surgical risks.