High-Precision, Low-Threshold Neuromodulation With Ultraflexible Electrode Arrays for Brain-to-Brain Interfaces

Yifei Ye; Ye Tian; Haifeng Liu; Jiaxuan Liu; Cunkai Zhou; Chengjian Xu; Ting Zhou; Yanyan Nie; Yu Wu; Lunming Qin; Zhitao Zhou; Xiaoling Wei; Jianlong Zhao; Zhenyu Wang; Meng Li; Tiger H. Tao; Liuyang Sun

doi:10.1002/EXP.70040

Exploration ›› 2025, Vol. 5 ›› Issue (4) : e70040 DOI: 10.1002/EXP.70040

RESEARCH ARTICLE

High-Precision, Low-Threshold Neuromodulation With Ultraflexible Electrode Arrays for Brain-to-Brain Interfaces

Yifei Ye ¹
, Ye Tian ¹^,²
, Haifeng Liu ³
, Jiaxuan Liu ²^,⁴
, Cunkai Zhou ¹
, Chengjian Xu ¹
, Ting Zhou ⁵
, Yanyan Nie ⁶
, Yu Wu ⁷
, Lunming Qin ⁸
, Zhitao Zhou ²^,⁴
, Xiaoling Wei ²^,⁴
, Jianlong Zhao ²^,⁴
, Zhenyu Wang ³
, Meng Li ²^,⁴
, Tiger H. Tao ¹^,²^,⁴^,⁹^,¹⁰^,¹¹^,¹²^,¹³^,¹⁴
, Liuyang Sun ¹^,²^,⁴

Author information +

¹. 2020 X-Lab, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

². School of Graduate Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

³. Intelligent Communication Lab, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

⁴. State Key Laboratory of Transducer Technology, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

⁵. School of Microelectronics, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China

⁶. Shanghai Laboratory Animal Research Center, Shanghai, China

⁷. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA

⁸. College of Electronics and Information Engineering, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai, China

⁹. Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

¹⁰. School of Physical Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China

¹¹. Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China

¹². Neuroxess Co., Ltd. (Jiangxi), Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

¹³. Guangdong Institute of Intelligence Science and Technology, Hengqin, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China

¹⁴. Tianqiao and Chrissy Chen Institute for Translational Research, Shanghai, China

yeyifei@mail.sim.ac.cn

wangzhenyu@sari.ac.cn

li.meng@mail.sim.ac.cn

tiger@mail.sim.ac.cn

liuyang.sun@mail.sim.ac.cn

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Abstract

Neuromodulation is crucial for advancing neuroscience and treating neurological disorders. However, traditional methods using rigid electrodes have been limited by large stimulating currents, low precision, and the risk of tissue damage. In this work, we developed a biocompatible ultraflexible electrode array that allows for both neural recording of spike firings and low-threshold, high-precision stimulation for neuromodulation. Specifically, mouse turning behavior can be effectively induced with approximately five microamperes of stimulating current, which is significantly lower than that required by conventional rigid electrodes. The array's densely packed microelectrodes enable highly selective stimulation, allowing precise targeting of specific brain areas critical for turning behavior. This low-current, targeted stimulation approach helps maintain the health of both neurons and electrodes, as evidenced by stable neural recordings after extended stimulations. Systematic validations have confirmed the durability and biocompatibility of the electrodes. Moreover, we extended the flexible electrode array to a brain-to-brain interface system that allows human brain signals to directly control mouse behavior. Using advanced decoding methods, a single individual can issue eight commands to simultaneously control the behaviors of two mice. This study underscores the effectiveness of the flexible electrode array in neuromodulation, opening new avenues for interspecies communication and potential neuromodulation applications.

Keywords

brain computer interface / brain-to-brain interface / flexible electrode array / neural interface / neuromodulation

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Yifei Ye, Ye Tian, Haifeng Liu, Jiaxuan Liu, Cunkai Zhou, Chengjian Xu, Ting Zhou, Yanyan Nie, Yu Wu, Lunming Qin, Zhitao Zhou, Xiaoling Wei, Jianlong Zhao, Zhenyu Wang, Meng Li, Tiger H. Tao, Liuyang Sun. High-Precision, Low-Threshold Neuromodulation With Ultraflexible Electrode Arrays for Brain-to-Brain Interfaces. Exploration, 2025, 5(4): e70040 DOI:10.1002/EXP.70040

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