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Professor Jinwoo Cheon & Jang-Ung Park Advanced Science Institute

New Brain-Computer Interface Technology Developed

New Brain-Computer Interface Technology Developed

Electronic circuits drawn on the skull break new ground in brain–computer connectivity

Soft artificial electrodes, tattoo-thin electronics enable brain–computer interfaces


A new brain–computer interface (BCI) technology has emerged that minimizes side effects and dramatically increases the duration of use.


The research team led by Yonsei University Advanced Science Institute Director Jinwoo Cheon (Director of the IBS Center for NanoMedicine) and Professor Jang-Ung Park of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, in collaboration with the research team of Professors Hyun Ho Jung and Jin Woo Chang of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Medical Center, successfully implanted artificial nerve electrodes that are soft as brain tissue into the brains of rats and printed electronic circuits on the skull surface using a 3D printer to transmit and receive brain waves (nerve signals) over a long period of time.


BCI technology uses brain waves to control external machines or electronics. The development of this technology is growing rapidly as it can help patients with communication difficulties or physical disabilities communicate more freely and accurately.


At the heart of BCI are implanted neuroelectrodes that detect signals from the brain and electronic circuits that transmit and receive the detected signals to and from external devices. Earlier technologies used electrodes and electronic circuits made of hard metals and semiconductor materials that are highly heterogeneous when implanted and cause inflammation and infection in the soft brain tissue. Furthermore, the damage to the brain interfered with signaling between nerve cells, restricting long-term use. Therefore, the BCI devices developed to date have been considered a last resort option for treating patients with end-stage brain disease.



[(Left) Illustration of a soft neuroelectrode based on liquid metal that is inserted into the brain, and an electronic circuit that is thinly formed along the surface of the skull]

[(Right) Image of a bio-integrated electronic circuit for communication formed along the curve of the skull]


In this study, an artificial neural electrode was created using a soft gallium-based liquid metal that resembles brain tissue, instead of solid metal. The fabricated electrodes were as thin as one-tenth the diameter of a human hair and were as soft as jelly, minimizing damage to brain tissue.


The electronic circuit was then printed thinly on a 3D printer to conform to the curve of the skull and implanted in the brain. This BCI was sufficiently thin to be imperceptible to the user and did not change the appearance of the skull after implantation. This indicated that it resolved the issues of foreign body sensation and discomfort encountered with traditional electrodes.


The interface implemented by the research team has the advantage that multiple neuroelectrodes can be implanted, simultaneously measuring signals from different brain regions. The use of 3D printing technology also allows for tailored interface design to match the brain structure of the user. Furthermore, unlike existing technologies that use wired electronic circuits, it can transmit and receive brain waves wirelessly, enabling its use in the daily lives of patients.


In animal studies using a rat model, the research team could stably detect neural signals in the body for more than eight months. With traditional interfaces, which are rigid solids, measuring neural signals for more than a month is difficult.


“We have developed a new brain–computer interface that can measure neural signals for more than 33 weeks with minimal damage to brain tissue,” said Professor Jang-Ung Park, who led the study. “It will be widely applicable to patients with various brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy, as well as general users.”


The findings of this study were published on February 27 (local time) in the international journal of Nature Communications (IF 16.6).



Find out more:

Title of original article: In-vivo integration of soft neural probes through high-resolution printing of liquid electronics on the cranium

DOI: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45768-0

Journal: Nature Communications

Contact corresponding author: Prof. Jinwoo Cheon (jcheon@yonsei.ac.kr), Prof. Jang-Ung Park (jang-ung@yonsei.ac.kr)


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