1 of 15

Recent Publications

SyncGenie: A programmable event synchronization device for neuroscience research.
Alkhoury L, Scanavini G, Swissler P, Shah SA, Gupta D, N Hill J. SyncGenie: A programmable event synchronization device for neuroscience research. HardwareX. 2025;21:e00619.
A human single-neuron dataset for object recognition.
Cao R, Brunner P, Brandmeir NJ, Willie JT, Wang S. A human single-neuron dataset for object recognition. Sci Data. 2025;12(1):79.
The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovascular function in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: A randomized trial.
Tan G, Huguenard AL, Donovan KM, Demarest P, Liu X, Li Z, et al.. The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovascular function in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: A randomized trial. Elife. 2025;13.
Circuit dynamics of approach-avoidance conflict in humans.
Staveland BR, Oberschulte J, Kim-McManus O, Willie JT, Brunner P, Dastjerdi M, et al.. Circuit dynamics of approach-avoidance conflict in humans. bioRxiv. 2025;.
IpsiHand Brain-Computer Interface Therapy Induces Broad Upper Extremity Motor Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke.
Rustamov N, Souders L, Sheehan L, Carter A, Leuthardt EC. IpsiHand Brain-Computer Interface Therapy Induces Broad Upper Extremity Motor Rehabilitation in Chronic Stroke. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2025;39(1):74-86.
The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovascular function in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: a safety study.
Tan G, Huguenard AL, Donovan KM, Demarest P, Liu X, Li Z, et al.. The effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation on cardiovascular function in subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: a safety study. medRxiv. 2024;.
Novel cyclic homogeneous oscillation detection method for high accuracy and specific characterization of neural dynamics.
Cho H, Adamek M, Willie JT, Brunner P. Novel cyclic homogeneous oscillation detection method for high accuracy and specific characterization of neural dynamics. Elife. 2024;12.
The development of aperiodic neural activity in the human brain.
Cross ZR, Gray SM, Dede AJO, Rivera YM, Yin Q, Vahidi P, et al.. The development of aperiodic neural activity in the human brain. bioRxiv. 2024;.
Graded decisions in the human brain.
Xie T, Adamek M, Cho H, Adamo MA, Ritaccio AL, Willie JT, et al.. Graded decisions in the human brain. Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):4308.
Motor learning changes the axon initial segment of the spinal motoneuron.
Wang Y, Chen Y, Chen L, Herron BJ, Chen XYang, Wolpaw JR. Motor learning changes the axon initial segment of the spinal motoneuron. J Physiol. 2024;602(9):2107-2126.
Does vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation.
Tan G, Adams J, Donovan K, Demarest P, Willie JT, Brunner P, et al.. Does vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation. Brain Stimul. 2024;17(2):460-468.
Does Vibrotactile Stimulation of the Auricular Vagus Nerve Enhance Working Memory? A Behavioral and Physiological Investigation.
Tan G, Adams J, Donovan K, Demarest P, Willie JT, Brunner P, et al.. Does Vibrotactile Stimulation of the Auricular Vagus Nerve Enhance Working Memory? A Behavioral and Physiological Investigation. bioRxiv. 2024;.
Novel Cyclic Homogeneous Oscillation Detection Method for High Accuracy and Specific Characterization of Neural Dynamics.
Cho H, Adamek M, Willie JT, Brunner P. Novel Cyclic Homogeneous Oscillation Detection Method for High Accuracy and Specific Characterization of Neural Dynamics. bioRxiv. 2024;.
Non-invasive Auricular Vagus nerve stimulation for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (NAVSaH): Protocol for a prospective, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial.
Huguenard AL, Tan G, Johnson GW, Adamek M, Coxon AT, Kummer TT, et al.. Non-invasive Auricular Vagus nerve stimulation for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (NAVSaH): Protocol for a prospective, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial. medRxiv. 2024;.
Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery.
Putzolu M, Samogin J, Bonassi G, Cosentino C, Mezzarobba S, Botta A, et al.. Motor imagery ability scores are related to cortical activation during gait imagery. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):5207.
Brain-Computer Interfaces for Communication in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: A Gap Analysis and Scientific Roadmap.
Schiff ND, Diringer M, Diserens K, Edlow BL, Gosseries O, N Hill J, et al.. Brain-Computer Interfaces for Communication in Patients with Disorders of Consciousness: A Gap Analysis and Scientific Roadmap. Neurocrit Care. 2024;.
Variability of corticospinal and spinal reflex excitability for the ankle dorsiflexor tibialis anterior across repeated measurements in people with and without incomplete spinal cord injury.
Brangaccio JA, Phipps AM, Gemoets DE, Sniffen JM, Thompson AK. Variability of corticospinal and spinal reflex excitability for the ankle dorsiflexor tibialis anterior across repeated measurements in people with and without incomplete spinal cord injury. Exp Brain Res. 2024;.
Neural mechanisms of face familiarity and learning in the human amygdala and hippocampus.
Cao R, Wang J, Brunner P, Willie JT, Li X, Rutishauser U, et al.. Neural mechanisms of face familiarity and learning in the human amygdala and hippocampus. Cell Rep. 2024;43(1):113520.
Operant up-conditioning of the soleus cutaneous reflex to non-noxious stimuli in a person with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.
Phipps AM, Thompson AK. Operant up-conditioning of the soleus cutaneous reflex to non-noxious stimuli in a person with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. Clin Neurophysiol. 2024;157:1-3.
A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain-computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study.
Demarest P, Rustamov N, Swift J, Xie T, Adamek M, Cho H, et al.. A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain-computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):3433.
Optimal approaches to analyzing functional MRI data in glioma patients.
Park KYun, Shimony JS, Chakrabarty S, Tanenbaum AB, Hacker CD, Donovan KM, et al.. Optimal approaches to analyzing functional MRI data in glioma patients. J Neurosci Methods. 2024;402:110011.
Bidirectional locomotion induces unilateral limb adaptations.
Hardesty RL, Motjabavi H, Gemoets DE, Wolpaw JR. Bidirectional locomotion induces unilateral limb adaptations. bioRxiv. 2024;.
Complexity organization of resting-state functional-MRI networks.
Trevino G, Lee JJ, Shimony JS, Luckett PH, Leuthardt EC. Complexity organization of resting-state functional-MRI networks. Hum Brain Mapp. 2024;45(12):e26809.
Predicting post-surgical functional status in high-grade glioma with resting state fMRI and machine learning.
Luckett PH, Olufawo MO, Park KYun, Lamichhane B, Dierker D, Verastegui GTrevino, et al.. Predicting post-surgical functional status in high-grade glioma with resting state fMRI and machine learning. J Neurooncol. 2024;169(1):175-185.
Multisensory flicker modulates widespread brain networks and reduces interictal epileptiform discharges.
Blanpain LT, Cole ER, Chen E, Park JK, Walelign MY, Gross RE, et al.. Multisensory flicker modulates widespread brain networks and reduces interictal epileptiform discharges. Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):3156.
Anatomical registration of intracranial electrodes. Robust model-based localization and deformable smooth brain-shift compensation methods.
Blenkmann AOmar, Leske SLiliana, Llorens A, Lin JJ, Chang EF, Brunner P, et al.. Anatomical registration of intracranial electrodes. Robust model-based localization and deformable smooth brain-shift compensation methods. J Neurosci Methods. 2024;404:110056.
The involvement of the piriform cortex in non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy: an uncommon component of the epileptogenic network.
Pedersen NP, Raghu A, Shivamurthy VKumar N, Chern JJ, Gross RE, Willie JT, et al.. The involvement of the piriform cortex in non-lesional temporal lobe epilepsy: an uncommon component of the epileptogenic network. Brain Commun. 2024;6(4):fcae179.
Non-invasive Auricular Vagus nerve stimulation for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (NAVSaH): Protocol for a prospective, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial.
Huguenard A, Tan G, Johnson G, Adamek M, Coxon A, Kummer T, et al.. Non-invasive Auricular Vagus nerve stimulation for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage (NAVSaH): Protocol for a prospective, triple-blinded, randomized controlled trial. PLoS One. 2024;19(8):e0301154.
Graded decisions in the human brain
Xie T, Adamek M, Cho H, Adamo MA, Ritaccio AL, Willie JT, et al.. Graded decisions in the human brain. Nature communications. 2024;15:4308.
Neural mechanisms of face familiarity and learning in the human amygdala and hippocampus
Cao R, Wang J, Brunner P, Willie JT, Li X, Rutishauser U, et al.. Neural mechanisms of face familiarity and learning in the human amygdala and hippocampus. Cell reports. 2024;43.
A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study
Demarest P, Rustamov N, Swift J, Xie T, Adamek M, Cho H, et al.. A novel theta-controlled vibrotactile brain–computer interface to treat chronic pain: a pilot study. Scientific reports. 2024;14:3433.
Does vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation
Tan G, Adams J, Donovan K, Demarest P, Willie JT, Brunner P, et al.. Does vibrotactile stimulation of the auricular vagus nerve enhance working memory? A behavioral and physiological investigation. Brain Stimulation. 2024;17:460–468.
Neural populations in the language network differ in the size of their temporal receptive windows
Regev TI, Casto C, Hosseini EA, Adamek M, Ritaccio AL, Willie JT, et al.. Neural populations in the language network differ in the size of their temporal receptive windows. Nature Human Behaviour. 2024;8:1924–1942.
Novel cyclic homogeneous oscillation detection method for high accuracy and specific characterization of neural dynamics
Cho H, Adamek M, Willie JT, Brunner P. Novel cyclic homogeneous oscillation detection method for high accuracy and specific characterization of neural dynamics. Elife. 2024;12:RP91605.
Anatomical registration of intracranial electrodes. Robust model-based localization and deformable smooth brain-shift compensation methods
Blenkmann AOmar, Leske SLiliana, Llorens A, Lin JJ, Chang EF, Brunner P, et al.. Anatomical registration of intracranial electrodes. Robust model-based localization and deformable smooth brain-shift compensation methods. Journal of Neuroscience Methods. 2024;404:110056.
Non-invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces: State of the Art and Trends
Edelman BJ, Zhang S, Schalk G, Brunner P, Müller-Putz G, Guan C, et al.. Non-invasive Brain-Computer Interfaces: State of the Art and Trends. IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering. 2024;.
Methods for automated delineation and assessment of EMG responses evoked by peripheral nerve stimulation in diagnostic and closed-loop therapeutic applications.
McKinnon ML, N Hill J, Carp JS, Dellenbach B, Thompson AK. Methods for automated delineation and assessment of EMG responses evoked by peripheral nerve stimulation in diagnostic and closed-loop therapeutic applications. J Neural Eng. 2023;20(4).
Characterization of High-Gamma Activity in Electrocorticographic signals
Gruenwald J, Sieghartsleitner S, Kapeller C, Scharinger J, Kamada K, Brunner P, et al.. Characterization of High-Gamma Activity in Electrocorticographic signals. Frontiers in Neuroscience [Internet]. 2023;17. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1206120
A motor association area in the depths of the central sulcus.
Jensen MA, Huang H, Valencia GOjeda, Klassen BT, van den Boom MA, Kaufmann TJ, et al.. A motor association area in the depths of the central sulcus. Nat Neurosci. 2023;26(7):1165-1169.
Comparisons of electrophysiological markers of impaired executive attention after traumatic brain injury and in healthy aging.
Kim N, Jamison K, Jaywant A, Garetti J, Blunt E, RoyChoudhury A, et al.. Comparisons of electrophysiological markers of impaired executive attention after traumatic brain injury and in healthy aging. Neuroimage. 2023;274:120126.
Unexpected sound omissions are signaled in human posterior superior temporal gyrus: an intracranial study
Cho H, Fonken YM, Adamek M, Jimenez R, Lin JJ, Schalk G, et al.. Unexpected sound omissions are signaled in human posterior superior temporal gyrus: an intracranial study. Cereb Cortex. 2023;33:8837–8848.
Intracranial stimulation and EEG feature analysis reveal affective salience network specialization.
Metzger BA, Kalva P, Mocchi MM, Cui B, Adkinson JA, Wang Z, et al.. Intracranial stimulation and EEG feature analysis reveal affective salience network specialization. Brain. 2023;.
Effects of active and sham tDCS on the soleus H-reflex during standing.
McCane LM, Wolpaw JR, Thompson AK. Effects of active and sham tDCS on the soleus H-reflex during standing. Exp Brain Res. 2023;241(6):1611-1622.
A somato-cognitive action network alternates with effector regions in motor cortex.
Gordon EM, Chauvin RJ, Van AN, Rajesh A, Nielsen A, Newbold DJ, et al.. A somato-cognitive action network alternates with effector regions in motor cortex. Nature. 2023;617(7960):351-359.
Data-efficient resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging brain mapping with deep learning.
Luckett PH, Park KYun, Lee JJ, Lenze EJ, Wetherell JLoebach, Eyler LT, et al.. Data-efficient resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging brain mapping with deep learning. J Neurosurg. 2023;:1-12.
Patients with Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease Benefit from Deep Brain Stimulation: A Case-Control Study.
Block CK, Patel M, Risk BB, Staikova E, Loring D, Esper CD, et al.. Patients with Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease Benefit from Deep Brain Stimulation: A Case-Control Study. Mov Disord Clin Pract. 2023;10(3):382-391.
Towards clinical application of implantable brain-computer interfaces for people with late-stage ALS: medical and ethical considerations.
Vansteensel MJ, Klein E, van Thiel G, Gaytant M, Simmons Z, Wolpaw JR, et al.. Towards clinical application of implantable brain-computer interfaces for people with late-stage ALS: medical and ethical considerations. J Neurol. 2023;270(3):1323-1336.
Passive functional mapping of receptive language cortex during general anesthesia using electrocorticography.
Nourmohammadi A, Swift JR, de Pesters A, Guay CS, Adamo MA, Dalfino JC, et al.. Passive functional mapping of receptive language cortex during general anesthesia using electrocorticography. Clin Neurophysiol. 2023;147:31-44.
Subsets of cortico-cortical evoked potentials propagate as traveling waves.
Campbell JM, Davis TS, Anderson DNesterovic, Arain A, Inman CS, Smith EH, et al.. Subsets of cortico-cortical evoked potentials propagate as traveling waves. bioRxiv. 2023;.
Multisensory Flicker Modulates Widespread Brain Networks and Reduces Interictal Epileptiform Discharges in Humans.
Blanpain LT, Chen E, Park J, Walelign MY, Gross RE, Cabaniss BT, et al.. Multisensory Flicker Modulates Widespread Brain Networks and Reduces Interictal Epileptiform Discharges in Humans. medRxiv. 2023;.
Altered cutaneous reflexes to non-noxious stimuli in the triceps surae of people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury.
Phipps AM, Thompson AK. Altered cutaneous reflexes to non-noxious stimuli in the triceps surae of people with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. J Neurophysiol. 2023;129(3):513-23.
Resting state network mapping in individuals using deep learning.
Luckett PH, Lee JJ, Park KYun, Raut RV, Meeker KL, Gordon EM, et al.. Resting state network mapping in individuals using deep learning. Front Neurol. 2023;13:1055437.
The human motor cortex contributes to gravity compensation to maintain posture and during reaching.
Hardesty RL, Ellaway PH, Gritsenko V. The human motor cortex contributes to gravity compensation to maintain posture and during reaching. J Neurophysiol. 2023;129(1):83-101.
Cognitive-Motor Dissociation Following Pediatric Brain Injury: What About the Children?
Kim N, O'Sullivan J, Olafson E, Caliendo E, Nowak S, Voss HU, et al.. Cognitive-Motor Dissociation Following Pediatric Brain Injury: What About the Children?. Neurol Clin Pract. 2022;12(3):248-257.
The Evoked Potential Operant Conditioning System (EPOCS): A Research Tool and an Emerging Therapy for Chronic Neuromuscular Disorders.
N Hill J, Gupta D, Eftekhar A, Brangaccio JA, Norton JJS, McLeod M, et al.. The Evoked Potential Operant Conditioning System (EPOCS): A Research Tool and an Emerging Therapy for Chronic Neuromuscular Disorders. J Vis Exp. 2022;(186).
Operant down-conditioning of the soleus H-reflex in people after stroke.
Thompson AK, Gill CR, Feng W, Segal RL. Operant down-conditioning of the soleus H-reflex in people after stroke. Front Rehabil Sci. 2022;3:859724.
Workshops of the Eighth International Brain-Computer Interface Meeting: BCIs: The Next Frontier.
Huggins JE, Krusienski D, Vansteensel MJ, Valeriani D, Thelen A, Stavisky S, et al.. Workshops of the Eighth International Brain-Computer Interface Meeting: BCIs: The Next Frontier. Brain Comput Interfaces (Abingdon). 2022;9(2):69-101.
Toward a fully implantable ecosystem for adaptive neuromodulation in humans: Preliminary experience with the CorTec BrainInterchange device in a canine model.
Schalk G, Worrell S, Mivalt F, Belsten A, Kim I, Morris JM, et al.. Toward a fully implantable ecosystem for adaptive neuromodulation in humans: Preliminary experience with the CorTec BrainInterchange device in a canine model. Front Neurosci. 2022;16:932782.
Objective Neurophysiologic Markers of Cognition After Pediatric Brain Injury.
Kim N, Watson W, Caliendo E, Nowak S, Schiff ND, Shah SA, et al.. Objective Neurophysiologic Markers of Cognition After Pediatric Brain Injury. Neurol Clin Pract. 2022;12(5):352-364.
Heksor: the central nervous system substrate of an adaptive behaviour.
Wolpaw JR, Kamesar A. Heksor: the central nervous system substrate of an adaptive behaviour. J Physiol. 2022;600(15):3423-3452.
Automated intraoperative central sulcus localization and somatotopic mapping using median nerve stimulation.
Xie T, Wu Z, Schalk G, Tong Y, Vato A, Raviv N, et al.. Automated intraoperative central sulcus localization and somatotopic mapping using median nerve stimulation. J Neural Eng. 2022;.
Soleus H-reflex modulation during a double-legged drop landing task.
Lyle MA, McLeod MM, Pouliot BA, Thompson AK. Soleus H-reflex modulation during a double-legged drop landing task. Exp Brain Res. 2022;240(4):1093-1103.
Neural oscillations during motor imagery of complex gait: an HdEEG study.
Putzolu M, Samogin J, Cosentino C, Mezzarobba S, Bonassi G, Lagravinese G, et al.. Neural oscillations during motor imagery of complex gait: an HdEEG study. Sci Rep. 2022;12(1):4314.
Dynamics of Oddball Sound Processing: Trial-by-Trial Modeling of ECoG Signals.
Lecaignard F, Bertrand R, Brunner P, Caclin A, Schalk G, Mattout J. Dynamics of Oddball Sound Processing: Trial-by-Trial Modeling of ECoG Signals. Front Hum Neurosci. 2022;15:794654.
A neural population selective for song in human auditory cortex
Norman-Haignere SV, Feather J, Boebinger D, Brunner P, Ritaccio A, McDermott JH, et al.. A neural population selective for song in human auditory cortex. Current Biology [Internet]. 2022;32:1470-1484.e12. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982222001312
Overview
Overview

 
 
Neurological disorders affect hundreds of millions throughout the world. Recent engineering advances, combined with new scientific understanding enable creation of powerful neurotechnologies that interact with the nervous system to promote recovery. Engineers and scientists at the NIBIB/NIH-funded National Center for Adaptive Neurotechnologies (NCAN) are at the forefront of this exciting work. We are creating technologies that support real-time adaptive interactions with the nervous system that produce changes (plasticity) that enhances recovery for people with spinal cord injury, stroke, and other disorders. These technologies are producing new scientific insights and new clinical methods. We are disseminating these achievements to engineers, scientists, and clinicians everywhere.
 
Figure 1 summarizes NCAN structure. At the center is BCI2000, our unique general-purpose software platform now used by labs throughout the world. The inner ring comprises the three Technology Research and Development projects (TRDs) that develop and employ our technologies, particularly through their close interactions with distinguished collaborators everywhere. The outer ring includes our many training and dissemination activities.
 
NCAN has formulated a new conceptual paradigm that explains how skills are acquired and maintained in what is now understood to be a continually changing nervous system (Wolpaw & Kamesar 2022). This paradigm generates a comprehensive Triple-Strategy framework for combined-therapy protocols that restore skills impaired by CNS injury or disease. Guided by the paradigm and framework, NCAN is enhancing its core technologies to support combined-therapy protocols, hastening their clinical translation, and disseminating the technologies, protocols, and their principles to scientists, engineers, and clinicians everywhere.
 
TRD1 (Noninvasive Combined-Therapy Protocols in Humans) develops BCI2000-based technology that supports combined-therapy protocols in people with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), stroke, or other disorders. These protocols enhance functional recovery significantly beyond that previously achieved, and this recovery persists after therapy ends.
 
TRD2 (Combined-Therapy Protocols in Animals) develops in rats BCI2000-based technology that implements promising combined-therapy protocols, evaluates their capacity to enhance functional recovery, examines mechanisms, and configures successful protocols for translation to human studies.
 
TRD3 (ECoG/SEEG-Based Combined-Therapy Protocols for Cognitive/Behavioral Disorders) is enabling development from intracranial measures of the effects of stimulation of BCI2000-based combined-therapy protocols that restore amygdala-mediated functions and alleviate post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety-related disorders.
 
NCAN offers many workshops in appropriate venues, provides training materials, guides other institutions in creating their own courses, and fosters creation of ongoing special interest groups. In sum, NCAN performs, encourages, and enables studies that increase understanding of CNS function and dysfunction, and realize effective new therapies for devastating neurological disorders.
 

Reference:

 

Wolpaw, J. R. and Kamesar, A., (2022). Heksor: The central nervous system substrate of an adaptive behaviour. The Journal of Physiology 600(15):3423–3452. ISSN 1469-7793. PMCID: PMC9545119.