By relaying neural signals from the motor cortex to muscles, devices for neurorehabilitation can enhance the movement of limbs in which nerves have been damaged as a consequence of injuries affecting the spinal cord or the lower motor neurons. However, conventional neuroprosthetic devices are rigid and power-hungry. Here we report a stretchable neuromorphic implant that restores coordinated and smooth motions in the legs of mice with neurological motor disorders, enabling the animals to kick a ball, walk or run. The neuromorphic implant acts as an artificial efferent nerve by generating electrophysiological signals from excitatory post-synaptic signals and by providing proprioceptive feedback. The device operates at low power (~1/150 that of a typical microprocessor system), and consists of hydrogel electrodes connected to a stretchable transistor incorporating an organic semiconducting nanowire (acting as an artificial synapse), connected via an ion gel to an artificial proprioceptor incorporating a carbon nanotube strain sensor (acting as an artificial muscle spindle). Stretchable electronics with proprioceptive feedback may inspire the further development of advanced neuromorphic devices for neurorehabilitation.

通过将神经信号从运动皮层传递到肌肉，神经康复设备可以增强因影响脊髓或下运动神经元的损伤而导致神经受损的肢体的运动。然而，传统的神经假体装置僵硬且耗电。在这里，我们报告了一种可拉伸的神经形态植入物，它可以恢复神经运动障碍小鼠腿部的协调和平滑运动，使动物能够踢球、走路或跑步。神经形态植入物通过从兴奋性突触后信号产生电生理信号并提供本体感受反馈，充当人工传出神经。该设备以低功耗运行（约为典型微处理器系统的 1/150），由连接到包含有机半导体纳米线（充当人工突触）的可拉伸晶体管的水凝胶电极组成，通过离子凝胶连接到包含碳纳米管应变传感器（充当人工肌梭）的人工本体感受器。具有本体感受反馈的可伸缩电子设备可能会激发用于神经康复的高级神经形态设备的进一步发展。