In a groundbreaking advance poised to revolutionize brain–computer interfaces, researchers have unveiled a flexible microelectrode array inspired by the ancient art of kirigami, capable of long-term, large-scale neuronal recordings in primates. This innovative device features a reconfigurable spiral thread design that can conform dynamically to the brain’s surface, resolving one of the most intractable challenges in neurotechnology: the brain’s extensive movement and deformation within the skull. The implications for neural prosthetics, cognitive neuroscience, and neurological therapies are profound, opening doors to stable brain-machine communication over unprecedented spatial and temporal scales.
Traditionally, microelectrode arrays implanted for neuronal recordings face the critical limitation of mechanical mismatch with the soft, writhing brain tissue. Conventional rigid arrays fail to accommodate the brain’s continuous micromotions due to cardiac pulsations, respiration, and head movement, often leading to tissue damage, scar formation, and degradation of signal quality over time. The primate brain is especially problematic because of its larger size and greater mobility within the cranial cavity compared to rodents, further complicating the design of durable interfaces for high-density neuronal monitoring.
Addressing these challenges, the research team developed a flexible array with a kirigami-inspired architecture—an approach that incorporates strategically placed cuts to allow materials to stretch, bend, and twist while maintaining electrical connectivity. These arrays consist of multiple spiral-shaped threads fabricated on an ultra-thin substrate, enabling remarkable mechanical compliance. Unlike conventional planar probes, these spiral threads readily deform in three dimensions, flexing with the brain’s surface topography and absorbing translational and rotational forces without strain concentration that would compromise device integrity or biocompatibility.
The arrays are transferred to the brain surface via an ingenious delivery system involving a water-dissolvable carrier coated with hydrogel. Upon implantation, application of water dissolves the carrier, leaving behind multiple spiral threads gently conforming to the brain’s cortex. This minimally invasive technique allows high-throughput deployment across widespread cortical areas, overcoming the spatial coverage limitations of existing devices. Such large-scale spatial mapping has, until now, been unattainable in non-human primates without invasive surgeries or multiple insertions.
Once implanted, the stretchable spiral threads float conformally on the brain surface, establishing soft contact and adapting to the brain’s continuous pulsations and shifts. This floating interface negates mechanical tethering to fixed points on the skull, thus mitigating inflammation and gliosis associated with rigid implants. The device’s design fundamentally changes how the interface negotiates the dynamic environment of the brain, resulting in improved long-term stability and faithful neuronal recordings.
The performance of these novel arrays was vividly demonstrated in macaque monkeys, the electrophysiological gold standard among non-human primates for translational research. Impressively, simultaneous recordings from over 700 individual cortical neurons were achieved with high fidelity, capturing the rich tapestry of spiking activity across the motor cortex. This dataset of unparalleled scale and stability has the potential to profoundly enhance our understanding of cortical network dynamics driving voluntary movement.
Importantly, the detailed neuronal recordings obtained with the kirigami arrays were leveraged to decode upper-limb kinematics—precise movement trajectories of the monkey’s arm—using sophisticated recurrent neural network (RNN) models. The decoding accuracy highlights the array’s promise as a platform for advanced brain-machine interfaces, where translating neural signals into motor commands could restore mobility to paralyzed patients or enable control of robotic prosthetics with natural dexterity.
The implementation of recurrent neural networks to decode the rich neuronal ensemble data is particularly noteworthy. RNNs are adept at capturing temporal dependencies in sequential data, making them ideal for modeling the complex dynamics of motor cortex activity. The synergy of stable, high-density recording hardware and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms sets a new benchmark in brain–computer interface research, revealing the full potential of neural decoding from chronically implanted arrays.
From an engineering perspective, the use of kirigami not only enhances flexibility but also imparts robustness to the device. The spiral threads are capable of reversible stretching and bending beyond conventional limits without electrical failure or delamination. This durability overcomes a critical bottleneck in implantable electronics, where material fatigue and device degradation often curtail operational longevity, particularly in the mechanically challenging environment of the brain.
Beyond mechanical advantages, the hydrogel coating used during implantation provides a biocompatible interface that supports tissue integration while minimizing foreign body response. The dissolvable carrier technique also avoids the trauma associated with inserting stiff arrays into brain tissue, facilitating a more elegant and less invasive procedure. This biotechnological innovation exemplifies how materials science and bioengineering can together redefine neural interface design paradigms.
The broad coverage afforded by deploying multiple spiral threads across large cortical territories holds significant promise for studying distributed neural circuits underlying complex behaviors. Until now, most primate brain recordings have been constrained to limited cortical patches or single regions due to hardware limitations. This expanded spatial scale could unlock insights into how distributed populations coordinate during movement, cognition, and sensory processing.
Looking ahead, the researchers envision that their flexible kirigami arrays could be adapted to chronic implantation scenarios, enabling stable recordings over months or years. Longitudinal data acquisition at this scale would greatly enrich clinical applications, from monitoring disease progression in neurodegenerative disorders to optimizing neural prostheses for functional restoration. The arrays’ mechanical compliance could also reduce complications related to tissue encapsulation, a major hurdle in chronic neurotechnology.
Furthermore, the design principles underlying this kirigami-inspired array may extend beyond primate neurointerfaces to other biomedical devices requiring conformal yet robust integration with soft tissues. Examples may include cardiac monitoring, muscular signal acquisition, and other organ interfaces where traditional electronics struggle with anatomical mobility and deformation.
This research paves the way for next-generation neural technologies that combine mechanical ingenuity, materials innovation, and computational power to bridge the gap between brain and machine. By drawing inspiration from kirigami art, the team has crafted an implantable array that speaks the language of brain biomechanics, fundamentally shifting our approach to neural interfacing.
The success of this flexible microelectrode array marks a critical milestone toward realizing the full potential of brain–computer interfaces for advanced neuroscience research and clinical neuroengineering. As efforts continue to miniaturize, optimize, and multiplex these devices, the dream of seamless, long-lasting, and extensive brain-machine integration inches closer to reality.
These advancements underscore the transformative impact that cross-disciplinary collaboration between neurobiology, engineering, and computer science can have on healthcare technology. The ability to record and decode neural activity at large scale with minimal biological disruption heralds a new era of interfacing the brain with external devices—opening vistas for restoring function, enhancing cognition, and unraveling the mysteries of neuronal information processing.
With this landmark development, flexible kirigami microelectrode arrays stand ready to illuminate the intricacies of brain function in health and disease, laying the technological groundwork for revolutionary neuroprosthetic therapies and immersive brain-machine communication.
Subject of Research:
Neuronal activity recordings in non-human primate brains using flexible kirigami microelectrode arrays.
Article Title:
Flexible kirigami microelectrode arrays for neuronal activity recordings in non-human primate brains.
Article References:
Fang, R., Tian, H., Du, Y. et al. Flexible kirigami microelectrode arrays for neuronal activity recordings in non-human primate brains. Nat Electron (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-025-01560-6
Image Credits:
AI Generated
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-025-01560-6
Tags: brain surface conformabilitybrain-computer interfacesbrain-machine communication stabilitycognitive neuroscience technologyflexible kirigami microelectrodeshigh-density neural monitoringlong-term neuronal recordingsmechanical mismatch in neurotechnologyneural prosthetics innovationneurological therapy advancementsprimate brain activity recordingreconfigurable spiral thread design
