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-cm²coverage) 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.