title: Brain-machine interfaces for motor control: a guide for neuroscience clinicians.
abstract: With the growing interdependence between medicine and technology, the prospect of connecting machines to the human brain is rapidly being realized. The field of neuroprosthetics is transitioning from the proof of concept stage to the development of advanced clinical treatments. In one area of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) related to the motor system, also termed 'motor neuroprosthetics', research successes with implanted microelectrodes in animals have demonstrated immense potential for restoring motor deficits. Early human trials have also begun, with some success but also highlighting several technical challenges. Here we review the concepts and anatomy underlying motor BMI designs, review their early use in clinical applications, and offer a framework to evaluate these technologies in order to predict their eventual clinical utility. Ultimately, we hope to help neuroscience clinicians understand and participate in this burgeoning field.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2S8, Canada.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Tejas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sankar
authors.forename: Nir
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lipsman
authors.forename: Andres M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Lozano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D009488:Neurosciences; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D014584:User-Computer Interface