# Cortical basis of complex motor sequences in humans for neural interfaces

> **NIH NIH U01** · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $1,311,652

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Intracortical brain-computer interfaces (iBCIs) can restore lost function for people with severe
speech and motor impairment (SSMI) due to neurological injury or disease. Despite tremendous
recent progress, iBCI performance remains well below that of able-bodied people. In prior NIH-
supported research, our collaborative team developed a high-performance intracortical brain-
computer interface (iBCI) that decodes arm movement intentions directly from brain activity.
This technology has allowed people with SSMI to control a computer cursor with sufficient
speed and accuracy to type at up to 8 words/min and has enabled full control of unmodified
consumer devices using only decoded motor cortical activity. In the proposed U01 clinical
research, we will take an important next step for the field: investigating neural ensemble
encoding during complex tasks that only people are capable of performing (i.e., moving arbitrary
combinations of limbs and body parts, and handwriting). This work will build upon decades of
experience in studying the motor system in humans and non-human primates, with the end goal
of advancing iBCI technology, and will be performed as part of the multi-site BrainGate
consortium. We propose to study in detail, at 'coarse' and 'fine' scales, how the Precentral
Gyrus (PCG; “motor cortex”) generates complex movements. We will base our investigations on
two new key discoveries from our lab: 1) that a small area of the PCG encodes movements of
all 4 limbs in a ‘compositional’ way, allowing differentiation of separate limb and movement
encoding dimensions, and 2) that complex, dexterous movements such as handwriting can be
accurately decoded from the PCG of people with paralysis. The results of these detailed
fundamental neuroscience studies will enable us to then design and demonstrate two entirely
new iBCIs: a system for helping restore continuous motion of the entire body in virtual reality
(‘Whole-Body iBCI') and a system to substantially increase on-screen text generation speed
(‘Handwriting iBCI’). Finally, we will continue to evaluate the safety profile of Utah-array based
iBCIs through the ongoing BrainGate2 pilot clinical trial, with particular emphasis on critical
neuroethics considerations. Upon completion, this project will advance both the capabilities of
iBCIs for restoration of lost function and our understanding of the detailed neural mechanisms of
complex movements.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10491780
- **Project number:** 5U01NS123101-02
- **Recipient organization:** STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JAIMIE M HENDERSON
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,311,652
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-09-22 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10491780

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10491780, Cortical basis of complex motor sequences in humans for neural interfaces (5U01NS123101-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10491780. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*