Neuroengineering, alternatively referred to as neural engineering, is an ambitious and fast-paced multidisciplinary field1. Fundamentally, it uses the concepts and techniques of engineering to comprehend, repair, substitute, augment, or even harness the properties of neural systems. Positioned at the intersection of neuroscience, computer science, materials science, electrical, mechanical, and biomedical engineering, neuroengineering is uniquely positioned to address some of humanity’s deepest enigmas and medical dilemmas.
The key purpose of neuroengineering is to fill in the gap between our growing knowledge of the brain’s complex operations and the creation of useful technologies that can diagnose, heal, or enhance neurological function. As neurological disorders and damages become increasingly common in an aging world, the importance of neuroengineering continues to grow. Its breakthroughs not only promise to restore lost function and enhance quality of life for millions of people with neurological ailments, but also to open up new windows into the very nature of consciousness, cognition, and human potential.
Disciplines that power neuroengineering
Neuroengineering flourishes through the synergistic interaction of various scientific and engineering disciplines as follows:
- Neuroscience supplies the building blocks of knowledge of how neural circuits, cells, and signals work, and how the brain is organized to process information.
- Electrical engineering contributes knowledge regarding recording of nervous activity, circuit designs, processing of signal, and stimulation technology that can engage with the nervous system.
- Computer science and bioinformatics are needed to handle and analyze the large, intricate data produced by neural recordings, construct algorithms for decoding brain signals, and utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) in interpreting and predicting neural activity.
- Material science and biomaterials engineering help develop biocompatible materials for implants, electrodes, drug delivery systems, and scaffolds for tissue growth, enabling devices to interface safely and efficaciously with sensitive neural tissues.
- Mechanical engineering is involved in developing neuroprosthetics, robotic limbs, surgical devices, and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) that interact with the nervous system2.
- Biomedical engineering serves as an overarching discipline, which unifies all these methods to implement engineering solutions for the challenges that our healthcare poses.
Key areas and applications of neuroengineering
Brain-computer and brain-machine interfaces
One of the most exciting frontiers in neuroengineering is the development of brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and brain-machine interfaces (BMIs)3, 4. These technologies establish direct communication channels between the brain and external machines, circumventing damaged or dysfunctional neural circuits. BCIs achieve this through the recording of brain signals, using methods such as EEG, electrocorticography (ECoG), or intracortical implants—decoding the user’s intentions, and converting them into commands for controlling prosthetic limbs, computer cursors, or communication devices.
For people with severe paralysis from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal cord injury, or stroke, BCIs have the ability to restore some level of independence by allowing them to communicate or engage with the environment5. New breakthroughs are aimed at rendering BCIs less invasive, enhancing the density and sensitivity of electrode arrays, developing wireless systems, and the incorporation of advanced AI-powered decoding algorithms6. Moreover, there is increasing focus on delivering sensory feedback, so that artificial limbs feel more natural and responsive.
Neuroprosthetics for restoring sensory and motor function
Neuroprosthetics are implants intended to replace or restore lost motor or sensory functions by directly connecting to the nervous system7. Traditional examples include cochlear implants, which restore hearing through electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve, and retinal implants, which restore partial vision to the blind by stimulating retinal cells3, 8. Robotic limbs and exoskeletons, which may be operated by BCIs or peripheral nerve signals, are offering new hope to amputees and those with motor impairments9.
Contemporary research in neuroprosthetics seeks to produce more naturalistic sensory feedback, unobtrusive integration with user intent, and lasting biocompatibility10. Sophisticated control algorithms and machine learning are making these devices more intelligent and intuitive, while novel materials and designs are enhancing comfort and durability11.
Neuromodulation and neurostimulation for tuning the brain’s circuits
Neuromodulation refers to techniques that apply electrical, magnetic, or optical stimuli to modulate neural activity in targeted brain areas or circuits. These therapies are revolutionizing the treatment of neurological and psychiatric ailments. Deep brain stimulation (DBS), for example, provides electrical stimulation to specified areas of the brain to reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, dystonia, and even depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder12.
Other modalities include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) for depression and pain, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for epilepsy and depression, and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) for chronic pain13-15. Optogenetics and chemogenetics enable researchers to manipulate neurons with light or designer drugs, providing unprecedented specificity16. Some of the hot topics in this area are adaptive closed-loop stimulation (where the devices can sense and react to neural activity in real-time), personalized targeting, miniaturization, and mapping out mechanisms of action for enhanced efficacy and safety17-19.
Neural tissue engineering and regeneration
Yet another revolutionary area is neural tissue engineering, which aims to restore or regenerate damaged neural tissue after disease or injury. This entails the development of biomaterial scaffolds, growth factor delivery platforms, and cell therapies, often times involving stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to drive neural regeneration. Hydrogels and other biocompatible scaffolds are employed to build supportive microenvironments, while gene editing and 3D bioprinting are transforming the scenario of what was so far thought to be possible. Ultimately, these advancements in neural tissue engineering represent a significant frontier in regenerative medicine.
Future research aims to develop vascularized, functional neural tissues, incorporating living cells into implantable devices, and increasing the brain’s own regenerative capacity. These developments have the potential to treat spinal cord injury, stroke, and traumatic brain injury, in which natural repair is restricted.
Advanced neuroimaging and diagnostics
Neuroengineering is also revolutionizing how we envisage and diagnose brain disorders. Advanced neuroimaging techniques, including novel MRI sequences, PET ligands targeting specific pathologies such as amyloid or tau, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and high-resolution ECoG—are providing unparalleled views of brain structure, function, and pathology20, 21.
These technologies are enabling earlier, more precise diagnosis of neurodegenerative conditions, mapping of brain circuits, and a better understanding of psychiatric illness. Integration with AI and machine learning is aiding automated diagnosis, prediction, and multi-modal imaging strategies that integrate information from multiple sources for a more holistic understanding.
Challenges and future directions
Though promising, neuroengineering is confronted with daunting challenges. Maintaining long-term biocompatibility and stability of implants is paramount—immune responses, fibrosis, and degradation of devices can curtail efficacy and safety22. Deciphering useful information from the brain’s noisy, highly variable, and complex signals remains one of its principal technical hurdles23.
Ethical considerations are ever more significant: privacy concerns (who will own and control brain information?), threats to cognitive enhancement, and fairness of access to cutting-edge treatments must all be cautiously considered and addressed through policies24. Translating promising laboratory results into actual clinical practice requires cooperation between engineers, doctors, industry, and regulators.
The future of neuroengineering will be defined by further convergence between AI and machine learning. This would pave the way for smarter, more adaptive devices that can learn from users and respond to them. Miniaturization and wireless power technology will make devices less invasive and easier to use25. Focusing on neural plasticity—the brain’s capacity to reorganize itself—will be critical to designing interventions that restore lost function and promote recovery at the same time.
Conclusion
Neuroengineering harnesses incredible transformative potential for diagnosing, treating, and preventing neurological disorders. By merging engineering discipline with biological insights, neuroengineering continues to deepen our understanding about the brain and yields innovative solutions to some of humanity’s most challenging health problems. Advancement in this field not only holds the potential to restore lost capabilities, but also to unlock new dimensions of human potential. This would, essentially, bridge the divide between minds and machines in ways previously thought impossible to achieve.