For the first time, there is an autonomous sensing and stimulating unit sitting in a specific brain region and ensuring that neuronal activity in that region is controlled. The closed-loop system is called NeuralTree and was developed by Mahsa Shoaran and EPFL colleagues, to overcome the lack of control caused by epileptic activity or tremor, and later depression, anxiety, OCD, and other disorders. In the future, the technology will be miniaturized, and could rely on internally harvested energy, such as blood flow or oxygen. It could then be possible to implant multiple units to aid the brain, when and where needed.
