# An Active, Multimodal Neural Interface for Real‐Time Monitoring of Cortical Electrical, Thermal, and Optical Dynamics

## TL;DR

A new implantable device can monitor brain activity in real time using electrical, thermal, and optical signals, potentially improving the treatment of neurological disorders.

## Contribution

The development of a chronically implantable, multimodal neural interface that enables real-time monitoring of cortical electrical, thermal, and optical dynamics.

## Key findings

- The device integrates silicon transistor arrays and resistive sensors for stable, high-fidelity multimodal recordings.
- In vivo testing in rats confirmed long-term stability, biocompatibility, and reliable performance under physiological conditions.
- The platform offers universal applicability for chronic neurological monitoring and personalized neuromodulation therapies.

## Abstract

Chronic neurophysiological monitoring devices facilitate the timely diagnosis and treatment of episodic or recurrent neurological disorders. Compared with passive electrodes, silicon‐based active transistors provide intrinsic signal amplification and, when combined with capacitive‐coupling measurement mechanisms, enable high‐density, high‐fidelity recordings. However, most existing systems remain limited to single‐modality electrical sensing and fail to address the growing demands of contemporary neurodynamic research. Here, a chronically implantable, large‐area cortical interface capable of real‐time multimodal monitoring of electrical, thermal, and photodynamic signals is presented. Building upon a silicon‐transistor array for neural electrical detection, the device integrates thin‐film metal resistors for temperature sensing while preserving mechanical flexibility sufficient for stable, long‐term tissue contact. By leveraging the photoelectric effect of silicon transistors and functional multiplexing of active elements, the interface also achieves precise photodynamic measurement. In vitro experiments confirm long‐term stability and channel isolation. In vivo evaluation in Sprague–Dawley rats, together with biocompatibility assessments, demonstrates reliable performance under physiological conditions. The technology used in this multifunctional platform has universal applicability in neural interfaces, offering continuous multimodal neurodynamic data acquisition with potential utility in monitoring, diagnosing, and treating chronic neurological conditions such as epilepsy and brain tumors.

A chronically implantable neural interface enables real‐time multimodal monitoring of electrical, thermal, and photodynamic activities. Incorporating silicon‐based transistor arrays with a functional multiplexing strategy and resistive sensors, the device delivers high‐fidelity recordings with long‐term stability and biocompatibility. This integrated strategy opens new avenues for epilepsy diagnosis and other personalized neuromodulation therapies.