We are now entering a tremendously exciting phase in our quest to understand the human brain. With large-scale programmes like the US BRAIN Initiative, EU Human Brain Project, Japanese Brain/MINDS, China Brain Project, etc, there is currently a huge appetite for new neurotechnologies. There is also, more recently a concerted effort (e.g. Galvani Bioelectronics, NIH SPARC, DARPA HAPTIX) on bioelectronic medicine (or electroceuticals) with devices targeting individual fascicles or nerve fibers within the peripheral nervous system to treat an array of conditions.

We have already witnessed the impact made by devices such as cochlear implants and deep brain stimulators, with hundreds of thousands of individuals that have and are benefitting every day. Soon, similar assistive technology will emerge for the blind, those suffering from epilepsy, and many others. Bioelectronic medicine will furthermore provide targeted therapy to a range of conditions that have not normally been associated with the nervous system. These could range from allergies, migraines, asthma and obesity all the way up to hypertension, infertility and possibly even cancer.

With the current capability in microtechnology, never before have there been so many opportunities to develop advanced devices that effectively interface with the nervous system. Such devices are often referred to as neural interfaces, or brain-machine interfaces, and range from wearable systems to fully implantable devices. Neural prostheses use such interfaces to bypass dysfunctional pathways in the nervous system, by applying electronics to replace lost function.