Real-Time Functional Brain Mapping Based on High-Channel-Count, Ultra-Conformal Neural Interface

We report a real-time functional brain mapping technique based on high-channel-count, ultra-conformal electrocorticographic (ECoG) electrodes. The MEMSbased 64-channel ECoG electrodes can well conform to the curvilinear surface of the cortex, thus showing good neural signal recording quality. This neural interface was applied to Labrador dogs for delineating cortical areas related to eyelid, nose, and limb motor function. The result was in strong congruence to that derived by electrical cortical stimulation (ECS) mapping, which is the gold standard in mapping the eloquent cortex. Our method can provide an instant functional map, which promises a great potential of this technique in the realtime passive functional mapping of the eloquent cortex.