Classifying Intracortical Brain-Machine Interface Signal Disruptions Based on System Performance and Applicable Compensatory Strategies: A Review

• Published in: Frontiers in neurorobotics Vol. 14; p. 558987
• Main Authors: Dunlap, Collin F., Colachis, Samuel C., Meyers, Eric C., Bockbrader, Marcia A., Friedenberg, David A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 09.10.2020; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Algorithms; Arrays; biocompatibility; brain-computer interface; Electrodes; Etiology; Interfaces; intracortical electrode array; Learning algorithms; Machine learning; microelectrode failure; Neural coding; neuroprosthetics; Neuroscience; recording disruptions; Regulatory approval; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectroscopy; Statistical analysis; Transplants & implants; Usability; United States > US; Utah; signal quality; neuroprosthetics; biocompatibility; brain-computer interface; recording disruptions; microelectrode failure; intracortical electrode array
• ISSN: 1662-5218; 1662-5218
• DOI: 10.3389/fnbot.2020.558987

Brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) record and translate neural activity into a control signal for assistive or other devices. Intracortical microelectrode arrays (MEAs) enable high degree-of-freedom BMI control for complex tasks by providing fine-resolution neural recording. However, chronically implanted MEAs are subject to a dynamic environment where transient or systematic disruptions can interfere with neural recording and degrade BMI performance. Typically, neural implant failure modes have been categorized as biological, material, or mechanical. While this categorization provides insight into a disruption's causal etiology, it is less helpful for understanding degree of impact on BMI function or possible strategies for compensation. Therefore, we propose a complementary classification framework for intracortical recording disruptions that is based on duration of impact on BMI performance and requirement for and responsiveness to interventions: (1) interfere with recordings on the time scale of minutes to hours and can resolve spontaneously; (2) cause persistent interference in recordings but the root cause can be remedied by an appropriate intervention; (3) cause persistent or progressive decline in signal quality, but their effects on BMI performance can be mitigated algorithmically; and (4) cause permanent signal loss that is not amenable to remediation or compensation. This conceptualization of intracortical BMI disruption types is useful for highlighting specific areas for potential hardware improvements and also identifying opportunities for algorithmic interventions. We review recording disruptions that have been reported for MEAs and demonstrate how biological, material, and mechanical mechanisms of disruption can be further categorized according to their impact on signal characteristics. Then we discuss potential compensatory protocols for each of the proposed disruption classes. Specifically, transient disruptions may be minimized by using robust neural decoder features, data augmentation methods, adaptive machine learning models, and specialized signal referencing techniques. Statistical Process Control methods can identify reparable disruptions for rapid intervention. diagnostics such as impedance spectroscopy can inform neural feature selection and decoding models to compensate for irreversible disruptions. Additional compensatory strategies for irreversible disruptions include information salvage techniques, data augmentation during decoder training, and adaptive decoding methods to down-weight damaged channels.