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Scientists at University of Michigan have created brain implants tested in rats that can more clearly record signals from surrounding neurons. The findings could eventually lead to more effective treatment of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and paralysis.

The newly developed brain implants use nanotubes coated with PEDOT, which is a bio-compatible and electrically conductive polymer that has been shown to record neural signals better than conventional metal electrodes.  The coating allows the electrodes to operate with less electrical resistance than current metal electrode sites, which means they can communicate more clearly with individual neurons.

According to the researchers, in the experiment, they implanted two neural microelectrodes in the brains of three rats. PEDOT nanotubes were fabricated on the surface of every other recording site by using a nanofiber templating method. Over the course of seven weeks, the team monitored the electrical impedance of the recording sites and measured the quality of recording signals.

According to Mohammad Reza Abidian, a post-doctoral researcher at the U-M Department of Biomedical Engineering, microelectrodes and neuroprosthetic devices hold the promise to return functionality to individuals with spinal cord injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.

Source blogs.zdnet.com