Initial experience with the precision neuroscience Layer 7 micro-electrocorticography interface for real-time intraoperative neural decoding

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using the Layer 7 Cortical Interface, a high-density micro-electrocorticography (μECoG) array, for intraoperative neural recordings and real-time brain-computer interface (BCI) applications, including speech decoding and cursor control. METHODS: Four patients (age range 23-43 years) who underwent awake craniotomy for tumor resection near the eloquent cortex were enrolled. The Layer 7 µECoG device (1024 channels, approximately 1.5-cm2 coverage) was placed on the motor cortex following standard cortical mapping. Intraoperative tasks included a joystick-controlled center-out movement paradigm (n = 3) and an auditory-cued speech repetition task (n = 1). Neural data were recorded at 20 kHz, preprocessed, and used to train decoders intraoperatively. A transformer-based model was applied for real-time speech synthesis and a convolutional neural network was trained for speech classification, while a convolutional recurrent neural network was trained to classify 2D cursor direction. RESULTS: All 4 patients tolerated the procedure without device-related adverse events. The mean electrode impedances across 6 arrays (6144 channels) ranged from 1.21 to 1.99 MΩ, with 954-990 channels per array retained for analysis. In the speech task, a 4-word classification model achieved 77.5% accuracy, and a real-time synthesis model was able to distinguish speech and silence during approximately 20 minutes of data recording in the operating room. In the motor task, a 4-direction classification model achieved 78%-84% accuracy. Recordings remained stable during tumor resection. CONCLUSIONS: The Layer 7 Cortical Interface device enabled high-resolution nonpenetrating cortical recordings that supported real-time speech classification and cursor control within the limited timeframe of an intraoperative session. These findings highlight the potential clinical applications of high-density µECoG for functional mapping, diagnostic assessment, and future chronic BCI systems for patients with motor and communication impairments.