Brain-Computer Interface Study

The Johns Hopkins Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, has been awarded a grant by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to conduct a clinical trial focused on recording and stimulating the brain of a person with tetraplegia.

A Year of Progress

These two clips show the progress our study participant, Buz Chmielewski, has made over the last year. His dexterity with the robotic arms has improved enough to be able to cut food with a fork and knife.

Our Study Participant

The current participant has a C6 spinal cord injury and is paralyzed from the shoulders down, with some residual function in his shoulders and wrists. His brain is healthy and the nerves below his neck are intact, but the two are unable to communicate due to his spinal cord injury. Here, Buz Chmielewski discusses what his experience in the study has been like.

Our Study Goals

Ultimately, the PM&R research team aims to study technologies that can help patients with paralysis and limb loss live more independently. This clinical trial has two main goals: Allow the participant to control assistive devices, and enable him to perceive physical stimuli touching the limbs using neurosignals from the brain.

Our Method

Our neurosurgery team implanted six microelectrode arrays (MEAs) into the participant’s brain — half in the motor cortex and half in the sensory cortex. The arrays are designed to read motor signals and stimulate sensory signals, bypassing the damaged spinal cord. These MEAs can connect to robotic arms (or other effectors such as a cursor screen, virtual effectors, etc.) with wires, as demonstrated in this video, allowing neurosignals from the brain to send messages to other devices and vice versa.

Controlling Assistive Devices
The implanted MEAs allow a computer to read the signals coming from the participant’s motor cortex. These signals convey the intention of movement. The computer then decodes and transmits these signals to the robotic arm, allowing the participant to control its movements similar to if it were his real arm.

The research team is investigating uses for the MEAs beyond controlling prosthetics. For example, the participant uses neurosignals to control a cursor on a computer or provides instructions to a smart home setup.

Additionally, we are testing whether the participant will be able to control two things at once using only neurosignals, such as controlling a wheelchair and a robotic arm at the same time.
Perceiving Physical Stimuli
While controlling a prosthetic limb is groundbreaking for someone with paralysis, it only solves half the problem. Without sensation, the participant would be controlling an arm that is essentially numb. Without sensory feedback, it is difficult to use the correct amount of pressure to pick up a cup, for example. Sensation also allows the participant to know where the arm is without having to look at it.

The goal behind implanting MEAs into the participant’s sensory cortex is to simulate sensation so that when the prosthetic arm is touched, the participant would be able to feel that touch and pinpoint its location. This ability will make robotic limbs much easier to use.

The research team wants to take perception beyond the scope of prosthetics as well. The goal is to use sensory cues to provide feedback for certain actions, such as a tap on the pinky indicating that a smart home system locked the front door.

What Makes this Study Different

This clinical trial is ongoing, and our research team is still working on publishing our findings. For now, we can share a few things that set this project apart:

Neurosignal Decoder

We built a decoder — a device that can read neurosignals and translate them into movement. Our participant is also learning how to adjust his neurosignals for better control.

Bilateral Implantation

Our team was the first to implant MEAs in both hemispheres of the brain. With this bilateral implantation, we aim to allow the participant to control right and left robotic arms independently and perceive touch on both hands simultaneously, differentiating between them.