Treffer: Brain-computer interfaces as a causal probe for scientific inquiry.
Title:
Brain-computer interfaces as a causal probe for scientific inquiry.
Authors:
Motiwala A; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA., Soldado-Magraner J; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA., Batista AP; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA., Smith MA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA., Yu BM; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: byronyu@cmu.edu.
Source:
Trends in cognitive sciences [Trends Cogn Sci] 2026 Jan; Vol. 30 (1), pp. 40-53. Date of Electronic Publication: 2025 Jul 28.
Publication Type:
Journal Article; Review
Language:
English
Journal Info:
Publisher: Elsevier Science Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9708669 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1879-307X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 13646613 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Trends Cogn Sci Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):
Original Publication: Kidlington, Oxford, UK : Elsevier Science, c1997-
MeSH Terms:
References:
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Nat Neurosci. 2019 Oct;22(10):1554-1564. (PMID: 31551595)
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J Neural Eng. 2020 Oct 13;17(5):056007. (PMID: 32927437)
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2017 Feb;18(2):86-100. (PMID: 28003656)
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Curr Biol. 2023 Jul 24;33(14):2962-2976.e15. (PMID: 37402376)
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J Neurosci. 2025 Sep 10;45(37):. (PMID: 40447446)
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Phys Rev Res. 2024 Dec;5(4):. (PMID: 39669288)
J Neural Eng. 2024 Jun 13;21(3):. (PMID: 38834054)
J Neurosci. 2011 Sep 14;31(37):13088-96. (PMID: 21917792)
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Neuron. 2017 Feb 22;93(4):929-939.e6. (PMID: 28231470)
Neuron. 2007 Jul 19;55(2):187-99. (PMID: 17640522)
Behav Neurosci. 2016 Apr;130(2):137-55. (PMID: 26913540)
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2023 Dec;83:102759. (PMID: 37708653)
J Neurosci Methods. 1999 Jan;86(2):145-59. (PMID: 10065983)
Front Comput Neurosci. 2013 Nov 05;7:157. (PMID: 24204342)
Neuron. 2018 Mar 21;97(6):1356-1368.e4. (PMID: 29503189)
J Neurosci. 2010 Dec 15;30(50):16777-87. (PMID: 21159949)
Trends Neurosci. 1989 Aug;12(8):292-6. (PMID: 2475947)
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Nat Neurosci. 2018 Apr;21(4):607-616. (PMID: 29531364)
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2019 Apr;55:103-111. (PMID: 30877963)
Nature. 2012 Mar 04;483(7389):331-5. (PMID: 22388818)
Nat Neurosci. 2021 Oct;24(10):1356-1366. (PMID: 34400843)
J Neural Eng. 2014 Aug;11(4):046025. (PMID: 25028989)
Neuron. 2021 Dec 1;109(23):3720-3735. (PMID: 34648749)
Curr Biol. 2024 Apr 8;34(7):1519-1531.e4. (PMID: 38531360)
J Neurophysiol. 2017 Mar 1;117(3):1112-1125. (PMID: 28031396)
Trends Cogn Sci. 2019 Aug;23(8):653-671. (PMID: 31279672)
J Neurosci. 2016 Aug 17;36(33):8598-611. (PMID: 27535908)
Neuron. 2024 Oct 9;112(19):3252-3266.e5. (PMID: 39079529)
Neuron. 2020 Oct 14;108(1):93-110. (PMID: 33058769)
Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2024 Dec 2;379(1915):20230093. (PMID: 39428875)
Nat Neurosci. 2014 Nov;17(11):1500-9. (PMID: 25151264)
Nat Med. 2019 Jun;25(6):898-908. (PMID: 31160817)
Nature. 2006 Jul 13;442(7099):195-8. (PMID: 16838020)
Annu Rev Neurosci. 2011;34:389-412. (PMID: 21692661)
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Elife. 2017 Feb 21;6:. (PMID: 28220753)
Neuron. 2014 Nov 19;84(4):665-80. (PMID: 25459407)
Nature. 2002 Mar 14;416(6877):141-2. (PMID: 11894084)
Nat Neurosci. 2025 Feb;28(2):383-393. (PMID: 39825141)
Nat Neurosci. 2024 May;27(5):1014-1018. (PMID: 38467902)
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 Jun 25;110(26):10818-23. (PMID: 23754426)
Nat Neurosci. 2014 Mar;17(3):440-8. (PMID: 24487233)
Nat Biomed Eng. 2021 Apr;5(4):324-345. (PMID: 33526909)
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2016 Apr;37:53-58. (PMID: 26796293)
Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2006 Mar;31(1):21-35. (PMID: 16614940)
Nat Rev Neurol. 2012 Dec;8(12):690-9. (PMID: 23147846)
Curr Biol. 2013 Mar 4;23(5):353-61. (PMID: 23416098)
Neuron. 2016 Feb 17;89(4):683-94. (PMID: 26889809)
Nature. 2023 Aug;620(7976):1037-1046. (PMID: 37612505)
Curr Res Neurobiol. 2022 Dec 29;4:100071. (PMID: 36619175)
Calif Med. 1971 Sep;115(3):44. (PMID: 18730594)
Neuron. 2017 Mar 8;93(5):1003-1014. (PMID: 28279349)
Nat Neurosci. 2021 May;24(5):727-736. (PMID: 33782622)
Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003 May;4(5):417-22. (PMID: 12728268)
Neuron. 2017 Feb 22;93(4):955-970.e5. (PMID: 28190641)
Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2004 Apr;14(2):169-77. (PMID: 15082321)
Grant Information:
R01 MH118929 United States MH NIMH NIH HHS; R01 NS105318 United States NS NINDS NIH HHS; R01 NS129584 United States NS NINDS NIH HHS
Contributed Indexing:
Keywords: brain stimulation; brain–computer interface; closed-loop; neural activity perturbations; neural population activity; neurofeedback
Entry Date(s):
Date Created: 20250730 Date Completed: 20260107 Latest Revision: 20260110
Update Code:
20260110
PubMed Central ID:
PMC12313151
DOI:
10.1016/j.tics.2025.06.017
PMID:
40731219
Database:
MEDLINE
Weitere Informationen
Establishing causal relationships between neural activity and brain function requires experimental perturbations of neural activity. Many existing perturbation methods modify activity by directly applying external signals to the brain. We review an alternative approach where brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) leverage volitional control of neural activity to manipulate and causally perturb it. We highlight the potential of BCIs to manipulate neural activity in ways that are flexible, accurate, and adhere to intrinsic biophysical and network-level constraints to investigate the consequences of configuring neural population activity in specified ways. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using BCIs as a perturbation tool compared with other perturbation methods and how BCIs can expand the scope of questions that can be addressed about brain function.
(Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)
Declaration of interests A.P.B. and B.M.Y. are inventors of pending US Patent Application No. 17/343,050, and M.A.S. and B.M.Y. are inventors of pending Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/010801. Both are related to using brain–computer interfaces as described in this review. J.S.M., M.A.S., and B.M.Y. are inventors of pending US Patent Application No. 63/697 896 and 63/795 999, which describe a closed-loop framework for external perturbations.