Key points from article :
A tiny, implantable carbon fiber electrode has the potential to provide a long-term brain-computer interface.
Shows promise in delivering electrical signals from the brain of a rat to an outside computer without damaging brain tissue.
Directly implanting carbon fiber electrodes into the brain captures bigger and more specific signals than current technologies.
May get high-quality signals with an interface that lasts years, not months.
"It sits inside the brain in a way that does not interfere with the surrounding blood vessels," - Elissa Welle, co-author of the study.
Researchers are hopeful that further testing will reveal similar potential in the brain and nerves.
Carbon fiber electrodes into nerves can be as small as the thickness of several strands of hair.
"...potential for U-M's electrodes goes beyond prosthetic manipulation," - Cindy Chestek, co-researcher of the study.
Study by University of Michigan published in IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering.
