Defining eloquent cortex intraoperatively, traditionally performed by neurosurgeons to preserve patient function, can now help target electrode implantation for restoring function. Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) have the potential to restore upper-limb motor control to paralyzed patients but require accurate placement of recording and stimulating electrodes to enable functional control of a prosthetic limb. Beyond motor decoding from recording arrays, precise placement of stimulating electrodes in cortical areas associated with finger and fingertip sensations allows for the delivery of sensory feedback that could improve dexterous control of prosthetic hands. In our study, we demonstrated the use of a novel intraoperative online functional mapping (OFM) technique with high-density electrocorticography (ECoG) to localize finger representations in human primary somatosensory cortex. In conjunction with traditional pre- and intraoperative targeting approaches, this technique enabled accurate implantation of stimulating microelectrodes, which was confirmed by post-implantation intra-cortical stimulation of finger and fingertip sensations. This work demonstrates the utility of intraoperative OFM and will inform future studies of closed-loop BMIs in humans.

中文翻译：

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新型术中在线功能映射的体感手指代表针对性地刺激电极放置。

传统上由神经外科医生在术中定义雄辩的皮层，以保留患者的功能，现在可以帮助目标电极植入以恢复功能。脑机接口（BMI）具有恢复瘫痪患者上肢运动控制的潜力，但需要精确放置记录和刺激电极以实现对假肢的功能控制。除了从记录阵列进行电机解码之外，在与手指和指尖感觉相关的皮质区域中精确放置刺激电极还可以传递感觉反馈，从而可以改善对假手的灵巧控制。在我们的研究中 我们展示了使用新型术中在线功能映射（OFM）技术和高密度电皮层成像（ECoG）来定位人类主要体感皮层中的手指表示。结合传统的术前和术中靶向方法，该技术实现了刺激性微电极的精确植入，植入后皮质内刺激手指和指尖感觉证实了这一点。这项工作证明了术中OFM的实用性，并将为人类闭环BMI的未来研究提供参考。植入后皮质内刺激手指和指尖感觉得到了证实。这项工作证明了术中OFM的实用性，并将为人类闭环BMI的未来研究提供参考。植入后皮质内刺激手指和指尖感觉得到了证实。这项工作证明了术中OFM的实用性，并将为人类闭环BMI的未来研究提供参考。