MohammadAli Shaeri

MohammadAli Shaeri, Arshia Afzal, Mahsa Shoaran

Neuroscience and neurotechnology are currently being revolutionized by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. AI is widely used to study and interpret neural signals (analytical applications), assist people with disabilities (prosthetic applications), and treat underlying neurological symptoms (therapeutic applications). In this brief, we will review the emerging opportunities of on-chip AI for the next-generation implantable brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), with a focus on state-of-the-art prosthetic BMIs. Major technological challenges for the effectiveness of AI models will be discussed. Finally, we will present algorithmic and IC design solutions to enable a new generation of AI-enhanced and high-channel-count BMIs.

Mahsa Shoaran, Uisub Shin, MohammadAli Shaeri

Integrating smart algorithms on neural devices presents significant opportunities for various brain disorders. In this paper, we review the latest advancements in the development of three categories of intelligent neural prostheses featuring embedded signal processing on the implantable or wearable device. These include: 1) Neural interfaces for closed-loop symptom tracking and responsive stimulation; 2) Neural interfaces for emerging network-related conditions, such as psychiatric disorders; and 3) Intelligent BMI SoCs for movement recovery following paralysis.

Timothee Robert, MohammadAli Shaeri, Mahsa Shoaran

Decoding bimanual hand movements from intracortical recordings remains a critical challenge for brain-computer interfaces (BCIs), due to overlapping neural representations and nonlinear interlimb interactions. We introduce BiND (Bimanual Neural Discriminator-Decoder), a two-stage model that first classifies motion type (unimanual left, unimanual right, or bimanual) and then uses specialized GRU-based decoders, augmented with a trial-relative time index, to predict continuous 2D hand velocities. We benchmark BiND against six state-of-the-art models (SVR, XGBoost, FNN, CNN, Transformer, GRU) on a publicly available 13-session intracortical dataset from a tetraplegic patient. BiND achieves a mean $R^2$ of 0.76 ($\pm$0.01) for unimanual and 0.69 ($\pm$0.03) for bimanual trajectory prediction, surpassing the next-best model (GRU) by 2% in both tasks. It also demonstrates greater robustness to session variability than all other benchmarked models, with accuracy improvements of up to 4% compared to GRU in cross-session analyses. This highlights the effectiveness of task-aware discrimination and temporal modeling in enhancing bimanual decoding.

MohammadAli Shaeri, Jinhan Liu, Mahsa Shoaran

Advanced neural interfaces are transforming applications ranging from neuroscience research to diagnostic tools (for mental state recognition, tremor and seizure detection) as well as prosthetic devices (for motor and communication recovery). By integrating complex functions into miniaturized neural devices, these systems unlock significant opportunities for personalized assistive technologies and adaptive therapeutic interventions. Leveraging high-density neural recordings, on-site signal processing, and machine learning (ML), these interfaces extract critical features, identify disease neuro-markers, and enable accurate, low-latency neural decoding. This integration facilitates real-time interpretation of neural signals, adaptive modulation of brain activity, and efficient control of assistive devices. Moreover, the synergy between neural interfaces and ML has paved the way for self-sufficient, ubiquitous platforms capable of operating in diverse environments with minimal hardware costs and external dependencies. In this work, we review recent advancements in AI-driven decoding algorithms and energy-efficient System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms for next-generation miniaturized neural devices. These innovations highlight the potential for developing intelligent neural interfaces, addressing critical challenges in scalability, reliability, interpretability, and user adaptability.