| Term | Other Terms | Tags/Categories | Technical Definition | Layperson Definition | Technical Definition Source (APA) | Keep? (1 for yes, 0 for no) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Action Potential | Spike, Neural Spike | #Neuroscience, #Anatomy, #ClinicalPractice | A rapid sequence of changes in the voltage across a membrane. In neurons, an action potential has three stages: depolarization (an all or nothing event),repolarization, and hyperpolarization. Action potentials propagate a signal along the length of an axon of a neuron. | An electrical signal that moves along a brain or muscle cell to transmit information. Often referred to as the "firing" of a neuron. | Grider, M. H., Jessu, R., & Kabir, R. (2023). Physiology, action potential. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538143/ | 1 |
| Activities of Daily Living (ADL) | ADL, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADLs) | #Assessment | An activity regularly necessary for personal care. The minimum requirements of ADLs include 1) eating, 2) dressing, 3) bathing, 4) grooming, 5) getting in and out of bed and chairs, walking, going outdoors, using the toilet, and 6) household management activities. | Essential tasks and activities necessary for independent living, including but not limited to eating, getting dressed, taking a bath or shower, moving from a bed to a chair, walking, and using the bathroom. For individuals with disabilities, the ability to perform ADLs is often a key measure of independence and a primary goal of assistive technology interventions. | Code of Federal Regulations. (2025). Definitions, 24 C.F.R. § 700.105. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/part-700/section-700.105 | 1 |
| Adverse Event | #Regulatory | Events tracked by the FDA for post-approval compliance, defined as "An unfavorable change in the health of a participant, including abnormal laboratory findings, that happens during a clinical study or within a certain amount of time after the study has ended. This change may or may not be caused by the intervention/device being studied." (clinicaltrials.gov) | A negative change in an iBCI trial participant’s health that happens during the clinical trial period. This health change may or may not be caused by the iBCI being tested. Clinical trials typically include a method for determining the relationship between the adverse event and the device or procedure. | ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Glossary of common site terms. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study-basics/glossary | 1 | |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) | ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease | #Condition | "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS),formerly known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurological disorder that affects motor neurons, the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement and breathing. As motor neurons degenerate and die, they stop sending messages to the muscles, which causes the muscles to weaken, start to twitch (fasciculations),and waste away (atrophy). Eventually, in people with ALS, the brain loses its ability to initiate and control voluntary movements such as walking, talking, chewing and other functions, as well as breathing. ALS is progressive, meaning the symptoms get worse over time." (NINDS, NIH) | A progressive disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle weakness and paralysis that generally worsen over time. | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als | 1 |
| Attempted Speech | #ClinicalTrials | The action taken by a person with vocal tract paralysis who is actively intending and trying to speak. | The action taken by a person with vocal tract paralysis who is actively intending and trying to speak. | 1 | ||
| Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) | AAC | #AssistiveTechnology | “AAC means all of the ways that someone communicates besides talking. People of all ages can use AAC if they have trouble with speech or language skills. Augmentative means to add to someone’s speech. Alternative means to be used instead of speech. Some people use AAC throughout their life. Others may use AAC only for a short time, like when they have surgery and can’t talk. There are a lot of different types of AAC. No-tech and low-tech options” (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) | A tool or device that helps people who have difficulty speaking or communicating verbally. These devices are designed to make it easier for individuals to express themselves and interact with others. | American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (n.d.). Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/aac/ | 1 |
| Autonomous Surgical Robot | #Surgery, #ClinicalPractice | A robot that is designed to perform a surgery with minimal assistance from a surgeon. | A robot that is designed to perform a surgery with minimal assistance from a surgeon. | 1 | ||
| BCI Task Trial | Single Trial | The period of time for carrying out the BCI task. Usually, it is composed of the stimuli and the subsequent execution of the BCI task. For online BCI, the feedback is included in real time. The brain response to a single stimulus is called a single trial. Most systems average over several trials to obtain a higher signal-to-noise ratio. | A BCI task trial is one round of doing a brain-computer activity. It includes presenting something to the user, the user trying to control something with their brain, and sometimes getting feedback. | Billiet, L., Hunyadi, B., Matic, V., Van Hulle, S., Verleysen, M., & De Vos, M. (2015). Single-trial classification in mobile BCI: A multiway kernel approach. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Bio-Inspired Systems and Signal Processing (BIOSIGNALS) (pp. 5–11). | 1 | |
| Beta Rhythm | Beta oscilation, Beta band | #Neuroscience, #SignalDescription | "A frequency of 13–30 Hz, present in the background of most users, arising from the synchronous and coherent electrical activity of neurons. Beta rhythms are more often found in frontal or central areas than posterior regions of the cortex. At least two distinct beta rhythms can be separated: 1) beta rhythms with maximums at EEG spectra located over the sensory-motor strip – Rolandic beta rhythms and 2) beta rhythms located more frontally – frontal beta rhythms" (IEEE) | A pattern of brain activity that is common in people who are awake. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 |
| Bidirectional BCI | Closed-Loop Stimulation, Feedback | #Patients, #Neurotechnology, #ClinicalPractice | A device that uses brain signals to control external devices and simultaneously provides external feedback by delivering stimulation to the brain. | A system that both reads brain activity and electrically stimulates the brain. | 1 | |
| Bin Width | #Neuroscience, #SignalDescription | Time, usually expressed in milliseconds (ms),used to divide continuous neural, behavioral, or task-related data into equal, discrete intervals. Each of these intervals, or "bins," summarizes the data that occur within its time window. | Just as a video recording is a series of images captured over time, a recording of brain electrical activity is a series of measurements captured over time. "Bin width" refers to the amount of time that passes between each of these measurements, and it is usually on the order of milliseconds. | 1 | ||
| Biocompatibility | #MaterialsScience, #Neurotechnology, #ClinicalPractice, #ModularComponents | A device's ability to function effectively, while in contact with biological tissue, without causing adverse immune responses, toxicity, or significant damage over extended periods. | The ability for materials used in medical devices to not cause harm or be rejected by the body. | 1 | ||
| Biomaterial | #MaterialsScience | "Natural or synthesized matter/construct interacting with biological hosts for replacing or augmenting their natural functions. [3]" (IEEE) | A natural or synthetic material that has been designed to interact with the body for a clinical purpose. | 1 | ||
| Biphasic Wave | #SignalDescription | "Complex consisting of two wave components developed on alternate sides of the baseline. [34]" (IEEE) | A type of waveform commonly seen on EEG recordings. These waveforms typically have two phases that go in opposite directions--one goes up and the other goes down--crossing a middle line called the baseline. | 1 | ||
| Bit Rate | “Bit rate is a standard measure of communication systems that takes into account accuracy, the number of possible selections, and the time required to make each selection” (McFarland et al. 2003) | A concept from information theory that has more recently been adopted to assess iBCI performance. It measures how much information can be sent in a given amount of time, often measured in units of bits per second (bps). | 1 | |||
| Brain Mapping | #DataAnalysis, #EthicsPrivacy, #Patients | The characterisation of the location and roles of different brain regions in a particular subject. The goal is to create a personalized map that links neural structures with brain functions. This helps determine the regions of interest to be targetted by the implant. | The process of identifying which areas of the brain in a specific individual control different functions of the body. This helps doctors decide where to place an implant, such as an iBCI. | 1 | ||
| Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) | BCI, Brain-Machine Interface, BMI | #Patients, #Neurotechnology, #ClinicalPractice | (1) A system that can translate neural signals into commands for controlling external devices or synthesizing speech. (2) The BCI Society defines a brain-computer interface as: A brain-computer interface is a system that measures brain activity and converts it in (nearly) real-time into functionally useful outputs to replace, restore, enhance, supplement, and/or improve the natural outputs of the brain, thereby changing the ongoing interactions between the brain and its external or internal environments. It may additionally modify brain activity using targeted delivery of stimuli to create functionally useful inputs to the brain. | A technology that enables the user to control computers or other devices using their brain activity. | 1 | |
| Breach Rhythm | "EEG activity recorded over or nearby a defect in the skull vault (for example after a fracture, burr hole or craniotomy),of increased amplitude when compared to homologous areas on the opposite side of the head (usually by a factor of less than 3). [1]" (IEEE) | A type of EEG signal that is observed when recording near a physical defect in the skull, such as a fracture or hole from a procedure. | 1 | |||
| Care Pathway | #Patients, #Evidence-BasedPractice, #PatientCare, #ClinicalPractice | A structured plan of care to guide and monitor a patient’s journey of care between health professionals and across sectors. It specifies the expected course of treatment, interventions, and timelines, from initiation through attainment of specified health outcomes. Care pathways are evidence-based and provide standardization of care, shared documentation, and evaluation tools. | A step-by-step plan that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers follow to treat patients with specific health problems. It helps make sure patients get the right care at the right time based on the best available research. | 1 | ||
| Category I CPT Code | #Reimbursement | "The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes offer doctors and health care professionals a uniform language for coding medical services and procedures to streamline reporting, increase accuracy and efficiency." Category I codes "...have descriptors that correspond to a procedure or service. Codes range from 00100–99499 and are generally ordered into sub-categories based on procedure/service type and anatomy." (AMA) | Standardized codes used to describe medical procedures and services provided by healthcare professionals for billing and reimbursement purposes. | Ask ChatGPT | 1 | |
| Clinical Benefit | #Regulatory | "A positive clinically meaningful effect of an intervention, i.e., a positive effect on how an individual feels, functions, or survives." (FDA) | A positive and meaningful result from using an intervention such as an iBCI. This includes making the user feel better, function better, or live longer. | Campbell, Michelle. “Measuring How Patients Feel and Function.” FDA, 12 May 2017, www.fda.gov/media/104969/download. | 1 | |
| Clinical Outcome Assessment | COA, Outcome Measure | "A clinical outcome assessment is a measure that describes or reflects how a patient feels, functions, or survives." (FDA) | A tool or structured method used in a clinical trial to evaluate the impact of the iBCI on how the user feels, functions, or survives. A clinical outcome assessment (COA) measures a concept of interest (COI) in a setting called a context of use (COU). | Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (n.d.). Clinical outcome assessment (COA): FAQs. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/clinical-outcome-assessment-coa-frequently-asked-questions#COADefinition | 1 | |
| Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) | #Evidence-BasedPractice, #ClinicalDecisionMaking, #PatientCare, #ClinicalPractice | Systematically developed statements that assist healthcare practitioners and patients in making decisions about appropriate healthcare for specific clinical circumstances. They are based on rigorous review of scientific evidence and are designed to optimize patient care by providing recommendations on patient care. | Recommendations created by medical experts to help doctors and other healthcare providers make the best decisions for patient care. These guidelines are based on research and are used to ensure patients receive the most effective treatments for their health conditions | 1 | ||
| Clinical Significance | Practical significance, clinical importance | #ClinicalPractice | The smallest diagnostic or treatment effect that provides a meaningful benefit to the target population, as opposed to just statistical significance. | An assessment of whether a new research finding is important enough to impact how a doctor cares for a patient. | Schalk, G., Brunner, P., Allison, B. Z., Soekadar, S. R., Guan, C., Denison, T., Rickert, J., & Miller, K. J. (2024, May 31). Translation of neurotechnologies. Nature Reviews Bioengineering. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-024-00185-2 Association of Health Care Journalists. (n.d.). Clinical significance. HealthJournalism.org. Retrieved July 28, 2025, from https://healthjournalism.org/glossary-terms/clinical-significance/ | 1 |
| Clinical Trial | #ClinicalTrials | "Clinical trials are research studies that test a medical, surgical, or behavioral intervention in people. These trials are the primary way that researchers determine if a new form of treatment or prevention, such as a new drug, diet, or medical device, is safe and effective in people. Often, a clinical trial is designed to learn if a new treatment is more effective or has less harmful side effects than existing treatments." (NIH) | A clinical trial is a research study involving human participants. Clinical trials are an important research tool and are used to quantify the safety and effectiveness of new medical devices. Clinical trials are typically conducted after non-clinical testing (bench and/or animal testing) has been performed. Clinical trials vary in design and purpose, ranging from small early feasibility trials intended to demonstrate safety, to larger trials that may compare the new BCI to existing treatments. | National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). What are clinical trials and studies? U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 9, 2025, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/clinical-trials-and-studies/what-are-clinical-trials-and-studies | 1 | |
| Closed-Loop Control | Real-time Control | The process by which a BCI user is aware of their BCI-enabled voluntary control of another device and, as a result, can change that control in real-time. Example: Control of a computer cursor. The participant actively controls the cursor during calibration, receiving real-time neural feedback. This allows neural signals recorded during actual closed-loop control to be used to calibrate the decoder. | The process by which a BCI user is aware of their BCI-enabled voluntary control of another device and, as a result, can change that control in real-time. Example: Control of a computer cursor. | Jarosiewicz, B., Chase, S. M., Fraser, G. W., Velliste, M., Yu, B. M., & Schwartz, A. B. (2013). Advantages of closed-loop calibration in brain–computer interfaces for neuroprosthetic control. Journal of Neural Engineering, 10(4),046012. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2560/10/4/046012 | 1 | |
| Cognitive Liberty | "The CCLE defines cognitive liberty as the right of each individual to think independently and autonomously, to use the full spectrum of his or her mind, and to engage in multiple modes of thought." (CCLE) | Freedom of thought, and freedom to determine when and how thoughts are shared with others | Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics. (n.d.). FAQ – Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics (CCLE): General info. https://www.cognitiveliberty.org/ccle1/faqs/faq_general.htm | 1 | ||
| Communication Disabilities | #Condition | A range of conditions that affect an individual's ability to communicate effectively. These can be categorized into: 1. Speech disabilities: Difficulties with the physical production of speech sounds. 2. Language disabilities: Challenges in understanding or expressing language. 3. Voice disabilities: Problems with voice production, such as those caused by laryngeal issues. | A range of conditions that affect an individual's ability to communicate effectively. These can be categorized into: 1. Speech disabilities: Difficulties with the physical production of speech sounds. 2. Language disabilities: Challenges in understanding or expressing language. 3. Voice disabilities: Problems with voice production, such as those caused by laryngeal issues. | Morris, M. A., Meier, S. K., Griffin, J. M., Branda, M. E., & Phelan, S. M. (2016). Prevalence and etiologies of adult communication disabilities in the United States: Results from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Disability and Health Journal, 9(1),140–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2015.07.004 | 1 | |
| Concept of Interest | COI | "In a regulatory context, the concept is the aspect of an individual’s clinical, biological, physical or functional state, or experience that the assessment is intended to capture (or reflect)." (FDA) | A term commonly used in clinical research and regulatory science to refer to a specific aspect of an individual's health or experience that is intended to be measured and evaluated as part of a study. It is the underlying concept that a Clinical Outcome Assessment (COA)—such as a questionnaire, performance test, or clinical rating scale—is designed to capture. | U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022, January 26). Principles for selecting, developing, modifying, and adapting patient-reported outcome instruments for use in medical device evaluation. https://www.fda.gov/media/141565/download | 1 | |
| Context of Use | COU | "The context of use is a statement that fully and clearly describes the way the [assessment] is used and the medical product-related purpose of its use." (FDA) | The specific circumstances of a clinical trial under which a Clinical Outcome Assessment (COA) is intended to be used. It defines how, where, and with what population the COA will be used, and for what purpose. | U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022, January 26). Principles for selecting, developing, modifying, and adapting patient-reported outcome instruments for use in medical device evaluation. https://www.fda.gov/media/141565/download | 1 | |
| Continuous Digital Autonomy | The ability of an individual to independently, privately, and continuously manage, control, and make decisions about their digital activities without external interference or assistance. | The ability of an individual to independently, privately, and continuously manage, control, and make decisions about their digital activities without external interference or assistance. | Sawyer, A., Cooke, L., Ramsey, N. F., & Putrino, D. (2024). The digital motor output: A conceptual framework for a meaningful clinical performance metric for a motor neuroprosthesis. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 16(5),443–446. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnis-2023-020316 | 1 | ||
| Control Signals | #Engineering, #SignalDescription | BCI is based on control signals that are recorded directly from the brain. These control signals can be categorized into three categories which are: 1) Evoked signals - generated unconsciously by the subject when they receive external stimuli (ERD, ERP, ERS, P3000),2) Spontaneous signals - generated by a subject voluntarily without any external stimulations (Imagery, SCPs),and 3) Hybrid signals - a combination of brain generated signals (Hybrid BCI). | The parts of brain activity that are used to control a BCI. | Ramadan, R. A., & Vasilakos, A. V. (2017). Brain computer interface: Control signals review. Neurocomputing, 223, 26–44. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neucom.2016.10.024 | 1 | |
| Cortical Electrode | Electrode | #BCIComponents | "Electrode applied directly upon or inserted into the cerebral cortex. [1]" (IEEE) | The part of the device which either sits on or is inserted into the surface of the brain and records the brain signal. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 |
| Cortical Oscillations | #SignalDescription | "A category of neural oscillations that originates in the cerebral cortex and is detectable by scalp-based EEG. See Neural oscillations. [70]" (IEEE) | A rhythmic type of brain signal that comes from the surface of the brain. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Coverage | #PayorCoverage | #Payor | Coverage refers to whether an insurance plan or payor will pay for a specific drug, medical device, or treatment. It involves decisions about which medical products and services are included under an insurance policy and the extent to which costs will be reimbursed. | Coverage refers to whether an insurance plan or payor will pay for a specific drug, medical device, or treatment. It involves decisions about which medical products and services are included under an insurance policy and the extent to which costs will be reimbursed. | 1 | |
| Decoder | #Engineering | An algorithmic component of a BCI system that translates recorded neural signals into control commands for external devices. The effectiveness of the decoder is crucial for the overall performance and usability of the BCI. | The part of a BCI system that translates brain signals into commands that control things, like computers or robotic arms. The effectiveness of the decoder is crucial for the overall performance and usability of the BCI. | 1 | ||
| Deep Learning | #AI, #Engineering | "Representation learning is a set of methods that allows a machine to be fed with raw data and to automatically discover the representations needed for detection or classification. Deep-learning methods are representation-learning methods with multiple levels of representation, obtained by composing simple but non-linear modules that each transform the representation at one level (starting with the raw input) into a representation at a higher, slightly more abstract level." (LeCun et al., 2023) | A method used within AI (artificial intelligence) that enables computers to provide insights on complex information. Deep learning can be used in BCIs to translate brain signals into commands to control things, like computers or robotic arms. | LeCun, Y., Bengio, Y., & Hinton, G. (2015). Deep learning. Nature, 521(7553),436–444. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature14539 | 1 | |
| Delta Rhythm | #SignalDescription | "Delta (1–3 Hz) frequencies transiently may be seen during normal wakefulness, but usually these slower activities only become prominent during drowsiness. [1,71]" (IEEE) | A rhythmic type of brain signal that usually occurs when a person is drowsy. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Depth Electroencephalography | "Technique of recording intra-cranial depth electroencephalogram. [1]" (IEEE) | A technique that involves inserting an electrode into the brain to record brain activity, most commonly used to identify the origins of seizures. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Device Output | Commands generated by a BCI decoder that are sent to an external device, enabling functions such as letter selection, cursor movement, and robotic arm operation. | The commands that a BCI system sends to an external device, after translating signals from the brain, such as to control a computer or a robotic arm. | 1 | |||
| Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) | DRG | #Reimbursement, #Payor | "A patient classification scheme which provides a means of relating the type of patients a hospital treats (i.e., its case mix) to the costs incurred by the hospital." (CMS) | A system used in healthcare to classify and group patients with similar medical conditions and treatment procedures for hospital reimbursement. | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Design and development of the diagnosis related group (DRGs) [PDF]. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cms.gov/icd10m/version37-fullcode-cms/fullcode_cms/Design_and_development_of_the_Diagnosis_Related_Group_(DRGs).pdf | 1 |
| Digital Activities of Daily Living | DADLs | #Assessment | ADLs and IADLs that are performed digitally. | ADLs and IADLs that are performed digitally. | 1 | |
| Digital Health Literacy | eHealth Literacy | #Education #Communication | "the ability to search, find, understand and evaluate health information from electronic resources and to use the knowledge gained to solve health-related problems." (WHO) | The ability to find, understand, and use health information from electronic sources to help with health problems. | World Health Organization. (n.d.). Strengthening digital health literacy to empower people in the digital age. https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2024/11/21/default-calendar/strengthening-digital-health-literacy-to-empower-people-in-the-digital-age | 1 |
| Digital Motor Outputs (DMOs) | DMOs | "A motor output decoded directly from a neural recording during an attempted...movement is transformed into a command that controls an electronic device." | The control signal that is output from an iBCI resulting from decoded neural activity associated with imagined or attempted movements. | Sawyer, A., Cooke, L., Ramsey, N. F., & Putrino, D. (2024). The digital motor output: A conceptual framework for a meaningful clinical performance metric for a motor neuroprosthesis. Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, 16(5),443–446. https://doi.org/10.1136/jnis-2023-020316 | 1 | |
| Efficacy Outcome Measure | #ClinicalTrials | Efficacy outcome measures typically focus on how the patient feels, functions, and survives during a trial. Efficacy measures are used to quantify the clinical benefit trial participants experience. Examples may include standardized Quality of Life or Neurological Assessment scores, and may also include customized trial-specific measures. | A measure that is used to show how well a treatment or other type of medical intervention is working in a clinical study. | N/A | 1 | |
| Electrocorticography | ECoG | #SensingMethod | "Recording electrical activity in the cerebral cortex with electrodes implanted within the skull but not penetrating the brain. Two categories exist based on the placement of electrodes. [1] Epidural electrodes placed outside the dura mater; Subdural electrodes placed immediately below the dura mater. Neither penetrates neurologically active tissues in the brain. [2] [33]" (IEEE) | A technique that uses electrodes placed directly on the surface of the brain to record brain activity. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 |
| Electrode Coverage | #Engineering | The spatial organization of electrodes on the cortical surface or within cortical tissue. | The arrangement of electrodes on the surface of the brain, on the scalp, or inside the brain tissue. | 1 | ||
| Electroencephalography | EEG | #SensingMethod | "Recording the bioelectric currents within the brain from the scalp. Pyramidal neurons in the cortex, running parallel with each other and perpendicular to the cortical surface, generate large extracellular currents recordable from the scalp as EEG. [34]" (IEEE) | A technique that uses electrodes placed on the surface of the head to record electrical signals from the brain. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 |
| Electrophysiological Activity | #SignalDescription | "Voltage or current changes that happen within a single neuron or between assemblies composed of more than one neuron. [72]" (IEEE) | The electrical signals produced by biological cells, such as brain cells. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Endovascular Electrodes | #Neurotechnology, #Surgery, #ModularComponents | A stent-like device deployed in the vasculature of the central nervous system, typically through an artery or vein. It levarages the proximity of neural tissue to blood vessels in order to record neural signals. | A device placed into a blood vessel that can record neural activity and/or stimulate nearby tissue. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Epoch | #Engineering | "A discrete time segment within a BCI recording that contains a neurophysiological event, typically a stimulus and neural response." (IEEE) | A short piece of time in a brain recording that captures an important brain event, such as seeing a light or hearing a sound and how the brain reacts to it. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Error Potential | Error-related negativity (ERN) | #SignalDescription | "The event-related component with a negative deflection, appearing between about 80 and 150 ms after an individual makes a behavioral error. Usually most visible over the central and frontal-central scalp." (IEEE) | A brain signal that occurs when a person makes a mistake during BCI use. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 |
| Event-related Desynchronization | #SignalDescription | "Decrease of the electric or magnetic brain oscillatory activity related to stimuli or self-generated events (e.g., cognitive or motor task)." (IEEE) | When the signals in the brain become less in sync in response to something the person is perceiving or doing. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Event-related Potential | #SignalDescription | "Changes in the brain’s electrical activity measured by EEG that are time locked to the onset of a specific stimulus or cognitive processes such as preparation for movement." (IEEE) | A brain signal measurement that occurs after a person perceives or does something. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Event-related Synchronization | #SignalDescription | "Increase of the electric or magnetic brain oscillatory activity related to stimuli or self-generated events (e.g., cognitive or motor task)." (IEEE) | When the signals in the brain become more in sync in response to something the person is perceiving or doing. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Evoked Neural Oscillations | #SignalDescription | "Neural oscillations whose phases are locked to stimulus onset." (IEEE) | When brain cells have coordinated patterned activity in response to something a person perceives. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Evoked Potential | Evoked Response | #SignalDescription | "Also called evoked potential or evoked cortical potential, is the electrical response of the brain to a sudden visual stimulus. The voltage is detected, at the scalp by surface electrodes. The evoked response represents the combined infinitesimal electrical currents generated by a large population of cells suddenly and simultaneously affected by a stimulus." (IEEE) | Electrical activity in the brain that occurs in response to something a person perceives. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 |
| Feedback | Signal Description | "Information about an action returned to the initial causing source of the action. [8]" (IEEE) | Signal that compares the actual output of a system to the desired output in order to reduce error. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) | HRQOL is a multi-dimensional concept that represents a patient's perception of the impact of their health. HRQOL encompasses the physical, mental, and social aspects of health, which may be impacted by both disease symptoms and treatment side effects. Relevant to BCIs, the five main dimensions include physical well being, mental well-being, social well-being, general health, and caregiver quality of life. | A patient-reported outcome measure that describes how a person feels their illness and treatment affect their body, mind, and social health overall. | Wong, J. K., Tahayori, B., & Rosenfeld, J. V. (2022). A review of wearable and implantable brain–computer interface systems. Journal of Neural Engineering, 19(2),021002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac60ca | 1 | ||
| Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) | #Reimbursement | The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) is a standardized code set developed and maintained by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). It's used to identify various medical procedures, supplies, products, and services in billing claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and other payers. HCPCS is primarily used for coding items and services not included in the CPT (Level I) code set, such as durable medical equipment, prosthetics, and supplies. | A coding system used to describe and classify healthcare services and supplies, including durable medical equipment, drugs, and supplies not covered by CPT codes. | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2025, May 2). Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coding-billing/healthcare-common-procedure-system | 1 | |
| Hermetic Enclosure | BCI Components | A hermetically sealed enclosure, or hermetic packaging, is a method of encapsulating a device or system in an environmentally protected package that prevents the exchange of the inside and outside environment. | An enclosure or packaging that protects an implanted device from the body's environment. | RF Design. (2020, August 28). Why hermetic enclosures and sealing? https://rf-design.co.za/2020/08/28/why-hermetic-enclosures-sealing/ | 1 | |
| iBCI Calibration | #DataAnalysis, #UserPriorities, #StudyEndpoints, #ProcessStep, #SingalProcessing | The process that updates iBCI decoders or algorithms to improve the translation of recorded neural signals into expected outputs | The process of teaching the brain-computer system to better understand a person’s brain signals so it can turn them into the right actions. | Bishop, W., Chestek, C. C., Gilja, V., Nuyujukian, P., Foster, J. D., Ryu, S. I., Shenoy, K. V., & Yu, B. M. (2014). Self-recalibrating classifiers for intracortical brain-computer interfaces. Journal of Neural Engineering, 11(2),026001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2560/11/2/026001 | 1 | |
| iBCI Setup | The steps it takes to ensure all components of the iBCI are in position and working as desired. | Getting all the parts of a brain-computer system ready and making sure they are working correctly before using it. | 1 | |||
| ICD-10-PCS Code | #Reimbursement | ICD-10-PCS is a medical classification coding system for procedural codes. ICD-10-PCS codes are alphanumeric and seven characters long. | Special codes used by hospitals to describe exactly what kind of medical procedure a patient had, like a surgery or test. | U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Vocabularydocumentation. National Institutes of Health. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/sourcereleasedocs/current/ICD10PCS/index.html | 1 | |
| Implant Migration | #Patients, #Neurotechnology, #Surgery | "Implant migration or hardware migration refers to the displacement of an implant or component away from its designated position and is associated with hardware failure and loosening." | Implant migration means a medical device inside the body has moved from where it was originally placed. This can cause the device to stop working properly or become loose. | Feger, J., & Qureshi, P. (n.d.). Implant migration. Radiopaedia.org. https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-91577 | 1 | |
| Implantable Brain-Computer Interface | iBCI | Implantable Brain-Computer Interfaces (iBCIs) are medical devices whose recording elements are implanted under the scalp or in the intracranial space, including with intravascular, epicortical, and/or intraparenchymal electrodes. iBCIs sense signals from the brain, interpret that brain activity (e.g. via software),and facilitate restoration or rehabilitation of function to improve users’ quality of life. [Note: For the purposes of initial focus, deep brain stimulation devices along with other brain stimulation technologies are outside the initial scope of the iBCI-CC.] | A technology that enables the user to control computers or other devices using their brain activity. iBCI systems typically feature implantable devices placed in or near the brain that can measure brain signals to help people with motor impairment or amputations move and/or feel again. iBCI systems may include multiple implantable components, including but not limited to brain implants, implanted leads (or cables),and components intended to transmit data and/or power, often implanted in the chest region. | Implantable Brain‑Computer Interface Collaborative Community. (2024, January 10). Charter of the iBCI‑CC (Version 10 January 2024) [Charter]. https://www.ibci-cc.org/charter | 1 | |
| Implantable Pulse Generator | BCI Components | An implantable pulse generator is an electrical source that delivers current to the brain tissue through lead wires and an electrode, and it can operate as either a current source or a voltage source. The implantable pulse generator (IPG) represents a key part of DBS systems and is the only component that requires programming, recharging, and potential replacement. | A small device placed inside the body that sends electrical signals to the brain through wires. It helps treat brain problems and can be adjusted, recharged, or replaced. | ScienceDirect. (n.d.). Implantable pulse generator – an overview. Retrieved June 11, 2025, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/nursing-and-health-professions/implantable-pulse-generator | 1 | |
| Inclusion Criteria | #patients #research | Inclusion criteria are predefined characteristics used to identify individuals who are eligible to participate in a research study. They ensure that participants align with the study’s objectives and target population, typically based on demographic, clinical, or geographic factors. | The rules researchers use to decide who can be in a study. These rules help make sure the people in the study are the right fit for what the scientists are trying to learn. | Patino, C. M., & Ferreira, J. C. (2018). Inclusion and exclusion criteria in research studies: Definitions and why they matter. Jornal Brasileiro de Pneumologia, 44, 84. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1806-37562018000000088 | 1 | |
| Independent Home Use | The ability to use an iBCI system in one’s home environment without assistance or supervision from a helper. | Independent home use means a person can use a brain-computer system at home by themselves, without needing help from someone else. | Vansteensel, M. J., Pels, E. G., Bleichner, M. G., Branco, M. P., Denison, T., Freudenburg, Z. V., ... & Ramsey, N. F. (2016). Fully implanted brain–computer interface in a locked-in patient with ALS. New England Journal of Medicine, 375(21),2060–2066. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1608085 Wolpaw, J. R., Birbaumer, N., McFarland, D. J., Pfurtscheller, G., & Vaughan, T. M. (2018). Brain–computer interfaces for communication and control. Clinical Neurophysiology, 113(6),767–791. Kübler, A., & Birbaumer, N. (2015). Brain–computer interfaces and communication in paralysis: Extinction of goal-directed thinking in completely paralysed patients? Clinical Neurophysiology, 126(3),445–455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2014.05.001 | 1 | ||
| Informed Consent | #Patients, #EthicsPrivacy, #Legal | The process by which a patient is provided with comprehensive information about a medical intervention, including its purpose, potential benefits, risks, and alternatives, to enable them to make an informed decision. It requires clear communication, ensuring the patient understands the information and consents without coercion or undue influence. | Informed consent is when a patient gets clear information about a medical treatment so they can decide if they want it. The patient must understand it and agree on their own, without being pressured. | Nijhawan, L. P., Janodia, M. D., Muddukrishna, B. S., Bhat, K. M., Bairy, K. L., Udupa, N., & Musmade, P. B. (2013). Informed consent: Issues and challenges. Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research, 4(3),134–140. | 1 | |
| Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) | Activities that support daily life within the home and community that often require more complex interactions than those used in regular activities. | Important tasks people do at home or in the community, like making meals, cleaning, or using a phone. These tasks are more complex than basic daily activities like eating or getting dressed. | Foster, E. R., Carson, L. G., Archer, J., & Hunter, E. G. (2021). Occupational therapy interventions for instrumental activities of daily living for adults with Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(3),7503190030. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.046581 | 1 | ||
| Inter-stimulus Interval | Signal Description | The amount of time between the end of one stimulus and the start of the next. | The time between one signal and the next. | Shimizu, K., Makino, S., & Rutkowski, T. M. (2015). Inter-stimulus interval study for the tactile point-pressure brain–computer interface. In 2015 37th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society (EMBC) (pp. 1910–1913). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC.2015.7318756 | 1 | |
| Intracerebral Electrode | BCI Components | Intracerebral electrodes are implanted devices that deliver electrical stimulation or record activity from targeted brain regions. | Intracerebral electrodes are tiny wires placed inside the brain to send or pick up electrical signals. | Faria, C., Bicho, E., Rito, M., Louro, L., Monteiro, S., & Erlhagen, W. (2013). Robotic implantation of intracerebral electrodes for deep brain stimulation. In 2013 IEEE 3rd Portuguese Meeting in Bioengineering (ENBENG) (pp. 1–6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ENBENG.2013.6518439 | 1 | |
| Intracortical Brain-Computer Interface | iBCI | A specific type of implantable brain-computer interface (also shortened to "iBCI") that involves the placement of electrodes directly into the cerebral cortex—the outer layer of the brain responsible for movement, sensation, and higher-level functions. These electrodes record neural activity with very high spatial and temporal resolution, allowing for detailed decoding of brain signals. | A specific type of implantable brain-computer interface (also shortened to "iBCI") that involves the placement of electrodes directly into the cerebral cortex—the outer layer of the brain responsible for movement, sensation, and higher-level functions. These electrodes record neural activity with very high spatial and temporal resolution, allowing for detailed decoding of brain signals. | 1 | ||
| Intracortical Electrodes | #Neurotechnology, #Surgery, #ModularComponents | Recording or stimulating electrodes that are placed within the cortex. | Intracortical electrodes are tiny sensors placed in the surface of the brain to read signals | Wang, M., & Guo, L. (2020). Intracortical electrodes. In Neural interface engineering: Linking the physical world and the nervous system (pp. 67–94). | 1 | |
| Intracortical Microstimulation | A method for simulating percepts by delivering electrical currents via microelectrodes implanted in the brain. | Technique where tiny wires are placed in the brain to send electrical signals. These signals can create sensations, even if nothing is really touching the body. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Intracranial EEG (iEEG) | Sensing method | In contrast with standard scalp EEG, iEEG is recorded by electrodes implanted directly inside the brain of some exceptional patients. Human Intracranial recordings usually measure local field potentials and occasionally spikes. Such recordings are mostly obtained from patients suffering from medically intractable epilepsy, but they are also recorded from Parkinsonian patients and some patients with brain tumors. | Way to measure brain activity using electrodes placed directly inside the brain, instead of on the scalp. It’s mostly used in patients with epilepsy to help doctors learn more about how their brains are working. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) Coverage | #Reimbursement | FDA authorization that permits the use of an unapproved or modified medical device in a clinical study to collect safety and effectiveness data. It exempts the device from certain regulatory requirements under the FD&C Act during investigation and requires IRB approval, informed consent, investigational labeling, study monitoring, and compliance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) regulations. | Special permission from the FDA that lets doctors and researchers test a new medical device on people to see if it’s safe and works well. The device can only be used in a study, and everyone in the study must agree to take part. | Center for Devices and Radiological Health. (n.d.). Investigational device exemption (IDE). U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/premarket-submissions-selecting-and-preparing-correct-submission/investigational-device-exemption-ide | 1 | |
| Levels of Evidence /Grade of Recommendation | #evidence | A structured system used in evidence-based medicine to evaluate the quality of research studies and determine the strength of clinical recommendations. Levels of evidence rank studies by methodological rigor. Grades of recommendation (e.g., A–D) are then assigned based on the quality, consistency, and applicability of evidence to guide clinical decision-making. | A system doctors use to figure out how good a research study is and how much they can trust it. Studies are ranked from strongest to weakest based on how well they were done. Then, doctors use that information to decide how strongly they should recommend a treatment. | Petrisor, B. A., Keating, J., & Schemitsch, E. (2006). Grading the evidence: Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation. Injury, 37(4),321–327. | 1 | |
| Life Domain Priorities | The importance that individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) place on various aspects of their life, such as leisure, relationships, employment, health, and social activities. | Parts of life that matter most to people with spinal cord injuries. These can include things like spending time with others, having a job, staying healthy, and doing fun activities. | Simpson, L. A., Eng, J. J., Hsieh, J. T. C., Wolfe, D. L., & The Spinal Cord Injury Research Evidence (SCIRE) Research Team. (2012). The health and life priorities of individuals with spinal cord injury: A systematic review. Journal of Neurotrauma, 29(8),1548–1555. https://doi.org/10.1089/neu.2011.2226 | 1 | ||
| Local Field Potential | LFP | #Neuroscience, #SignalType | Low frequency electrical signal measured in the brain, corresponding to the aggregate activity of a local population of neurons. They represent synchronized neural activity occurring near the electrode. | Patterns of electrical activity in the brain that correspond to the combined activity of groups of neurons that are close to each other. | Kajikawa, Y., & Schroeder, C. E. (2011). How local is the local field potential? Neuron, 72(5),847–858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2011.09.029 | 1 |
| Locked-in Syndrome | A clinical condition in which a participant retains cognitive capacity but has limited voluntary motor function. Locked-in syndrome is a spectrum, ranging from fully locked in states (no residual voluntary motor function) to partially locked in states (some residual voluntary motor function such as head movements). | Rare condition where a person is awake and can think, but they can't move their body. Some people can't move at all, while others may still be able to move small parts like their eyes or head. | Silva, A. B., Littlejohn, K. T., Liu, J. R., Moses, D. A., & Chang, E. F. (2024). The speech neuroprosthesis. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 25(7),473–492. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-024-00819-9 | 1 | ||
| Machine Learning | A field of study within artificial intelligence (AI) focused on designing computer systems that improve automatically through experience and uncovering the fundamental principles governing learning across systems. By learning from examples rather than explicit programming, machine learning has become a core method for building intelligent systems. | A type of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables computers to learn from data and improve their performance over time without being explicitly programmed for every task. Instead of following fixed rules, a machine learning system identifies patterns or relationships in data and uses that information to make predictions, decisions, or classifications. | Jordan, M. I., & Mitchell, T. M. (2015). Machine learning: Trends, perspectives, and prospects. Science, 349(6245),255–260. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa8415 | 1 | ||
| Magnetoencephalography | MEG | #SensingMethod | The measurement of the magnetic field generated by the electrical activity of neurons. It is usually combined with magnetic resonance imaging (see fMRI) to get what is called magnetic source imaging. [40] | A way to see the tiny magnetic fields made by the brain when it is active. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 |
| Mental Privacy | The right to seclude neural information from unconsented access and scrutiny, especially information processed below the threshold of conscious perception. | Having the right to keep your brain activity and thoughts private. This includes brain signals you aren’t even aware of, and it protects them from being looked at or used without your permission. | “Brain Machine Interfaces, Artificial Intelligence and Neurorights | IEEE Brain.” | 1 | ||
| Microelectrode Array | MEA | Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) are devices capable of recording extracellular action potentials (spikes) from many neurons simultaneously and with high spatial and temporal resolution. | Tiny sensors that measure brain activity from many individual neurons at the same time. | Williams, N. P., Voroslakos, M., Shi, D., & others. (2025). In vivo microelectrode arrays for neuroscience. Nature Reviews Methods Primers, 5, Article 31. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43586-025-00399-7 | 1 | |
| Minimal Clinical Important Difference | "The smallest benefit of value to patients is called the minimal clinically important difference (MCID). The MCID is a patient-centered concept, capturing both the magnitude of the improvement and also the value patients place on the change." | The smallest change in a treatment or intervention that patients feel is helpful. | McGlothlin, A. E., & Lewis, R. J. (2014). Minimal clinically important difference: Defining what really matters to patients. JAMA, 312(13),1342–1343. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.13128 | 1 | ||
| Motor Imagery | The mental simulation of movements, involving kinesthetic or visual representations of actions, without the movements actually being performed. [44] | Imagining yourself doing a movement, like running or picking something up, without actually moving your body. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Motor Intent | A motor intention is a conscious plan to carry out a specific bodily movement, closely tied to the brain’s internal representation of that action. It reflects the person's awareness and control of fine-grained movements. | The intention to move a body part or body parts. | Brozzo, C. (2017). Motor intentions: How intentions and motor representations come together. Mind & Language, 32(2),231–256. https://doi.org/10.1111/mila.12141 | 1 | ||
| Mu Rhythm | The neural oscillation of 8 to 12 Hz frequency seen over the central head regions (sensorimotor areas). Mu is seen in between 20 and 40% of normal adults, is characterized by arch-shaped (arciform) waves occurring either unilaterally or bilaterally over the central regions, and is prominent during drowsiness. Mu is unrelated to eye-opening or closure and reacts to movement, somatosensory stimulus, or the thought of movement. It is thought to be generated in the rolandic region of the frontal and parietal lobes in relation to functions of the sensorimotor cortices. The technologist should instruct the patient to wiggle their thumb to distinguish mu from alpha; mu will attenuate, whereas alpha is unchanged, by movement or intention to move. Amplitude varies but is mostly below 50 μV. | Mu rhythm is a type of brainwave that happens when someone is resting or getting sleepy. It shows up as a special wave pattern in the middle region of the brain. This rhythm often goes away when a person moves or even just thinks about moving. Doctors can tell it apart from other brainwaves by asking someone to move their thumb because mu rhythm changes with movement. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Multi-unit Activity | Represents the average spiking of small neuronal populations close to the vicinity of the placed microelectrode. It is obtained by band-pass filtering the recorded signal in a frequency range of 400 to a few thousand Hz. | The collective activity from a small group of brain cells near a tiny electrode. It shows the average "spiking" or firing of these cells. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Multidisciplinary Decision Making | #collaborative care, #Interdisciplinary approach | The process in which professionals from various disciplines collaborate to make informed decisions regarding patient care. This approach leverages the expertise of different healthcare specialties to ensure that all aspects of a patient’s condition are considered, resulting in comprehensive and well-rounded patient care plans. Each team member contributes their specialized knowledge to achieve the best possible outcomes for the patient | When doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals from different areas work together to decide the best way to care for a patient. By combining their expertise, they make sure that all parts of the patient’s health are looked after, leading to better overall treatment. | 1 | ||
| Nanodevice | See nanotechnology | 1 | ||||
| Nanotechnology | Nanotechnology represents a revolutionary path for technological development that concerns the management of material at the nanometer scale (one billion times smaller than a meter). Nanotechnology factually means any technology on the nanoscale that has numerous applications in the real world. | Devices or technology on a tiny scale, like the size of a kernel of rice or smaller | Nasrollahzadeh, M., Sajadi, S. M., Sajadi, S. M., & Iravani, S. (2019). An introduction to nanotechnology. In Interface science and technology (Vol. 28, pp. 1–27). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-813586-0.00001-3 | 1 | ||
| National Coverage Determination (NCD) | #Reimbursement | Official decisions made by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that establish whether a particular item or service is covered nationally under Medicare. NCDs are based on a thorough evidence-based review to determine if the item or service is "reasonable and necessary" for the diagnosis or treatment of illness or injury, and they apply uniformly across all states. The NCD process includes opportunities for public input and ensures consistency in coverage decisions across the Medicare program. | A decision made by Medicare about whether it will pay for a specific medical service, treatment, or procedure. | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medicare coverage determination process. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/determination-process | 1 | |
| Neural Data | #DataAnalysis, #EthicsPrivacy | Recording of the electrical activity generated by neurons. | Information recorded from the brain. It comes from the electrical signals that brain cells (neurons) use to communicate with each other. | 1 | ||
| Neural Data Privacy (Privacy) | #ethics #legal #engineering | Privacy in the context of brain data from neurotechnological devices refers to the protection and management of personal information derived from brain data, ensuring that brain data are collected, used, stored, and disclosed in a manner that safeguards the individual's confidentiality, autonomy, and rights. | Protecting information collected from brain data, using it only as promised, and sharing only with permission. | International Organization for Standardization. (2019). ISO/IEC 27701:2019 — Security techniques — Extension to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 for privacy information management — Requirements and guidelines. https://www.iso.org/standard/71670.html U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/laws-regulations/index.html | 1 | |
| Neural Decoding | #DataAnalysis, #EthicsPrivacy | The study of neural activity to extract meaningful information from the activity of individual cells or networks of neurons. It involves applying computational models and algorithms to neural signals. | The study of brain signals to extract meaningful information. | Lu, H. Y., Lorenc, E. S., Zhu, H., Kilmarx, J., Sulzer, J., Xie, C., ... & Santacruz, S. R. (2021). Multi-scale neural decoding and analysis. Journal of Neural Engineering, 18(4),045013. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2552/ac0c95 | 1 | |
| Neural Interface | The hardware device that interacts (recording or stimulating) with the central or peripheral neural system. | A physical device that records or interacts with the brain and nervous system. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Neural Network | Neural network is a computing model, by a large number of nodes (or neurons) connected to each other [2]. Each node represents a specific output function, called the activation function. The connection between every two nodes represents a weight for the signal passing through the connection, which is called the weight, which is equivalent to the memory of the artificial neural network [3]. The output of the network will vary depending on how the network is connected, the weight value, and the incentive function. | A computer system that is designed to work like a human brain. It learns from examples, recognizes patterns and makes decisions, just like how people learn from experience. | Wu, Y., & Feng, J. (2018). Development and application of artificial neural network. Wireless Personal Communications, 102(2),1645–1656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11277-017-5224-x | 1 | ||
| Neural Oscillations | #neuroscience, #signalprocessing | A fundamental mechanism of synchronized neural activity that coordinates activity within and across brain regions and supports perception, cognition, memory and behavior. | brain wave patterns of electrical activity that help different parts of the brain work together. They play an important role in how we think, remember, feel, and act. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Neuroadaptive | A system that processes the given input (e.g., updating a user model) or acts on the basis of previously learned information. Adaptation is ultimately based on neurophysiological measures. | A system that changes or learns based on brain signals. It can adjust what it does by using new brain data or things it has learned before. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Neurofeedback | #Therapy, #Patients, #ClinicalPractice, #UserPriorities | "Neurofeedback is a kind of biofeedback, which teaches self-control of brain functions to subjects by measuring brain waves and providing a feedback signal. Neurofeedback usually provides the audio and or video feedback." | A real-time display of a BCI user's brain activity that helps them see how the signals are being used or processed. With this feedback, the user can learn to change their brain activity. | Marzbani, H., Marateb, H. R., & Mansourian, M. (2016). Neurofeedback: A comprehensive review on system design, methodology and clinical applications. Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, 7(2),143–158. https://doi.org/10.15412/J.BCN.03070208 | 1 | |
| Neuroinformatics | The study of information in neuroscience. This includes information flow and processing, as well as computational models for neuroscience. | Study of how information moves and is used in the brain. It also includes using computers to help us understand the brain | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD) | Neuromuscular diseases are a broadly defined group of disorders that all involve injury or dysfunction of peripheral nerves or muscle. | A group of progressive disorders that affect the motor neurons, muscles, or neuromuscular junction, leading to loss of muscle function overtime. | Morrison, B. (2016). Neuromuscular diseases. Seminars in Neurology, 36(5),409–418. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0036-1586263 | 1 | ||
| Neuronavigation | #Neurosurgery #Imaging | A computer-assisted technology used in neurosurgery that combines pre-operative imaging with real-time tracking for enhanced surgical precision. It improves accuracy by visualizing the location of surgical instruments within a three-dimensional map of the patient’s anatomy. | A technology that gives doctors a detailed map of the brain or spine while they perform surgery. It helps them see where they are operating, so they can work more safely and accurately. | Ganslandt, O., Behari, S., Gralla, J., Fahlbusch, R., & Nimsky, C. (2002). Neuronavigation: Concept, techniques and applications. Neurology India, 50(3),244–255. | 1 | |
| Neurophysiological process | A mechanism where one or more components of the neural system modify their internal electrical or chemical state. (Source: IEEE) | The way brain cells (neurons) send messages using electricity and chemicals. These messages help control how our body works, how we act, and how we think. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | ||
| Neuroprosthesis | #Patients, #Neurotechnology, #ClinicalPractice | A device designed to replace the function of an impaired nervous system, including the central or peripheral nervous system. | A medical device that uses signals from the brain or nerves to help bring back lost abilities, like feeling, moving, or thinking clearly. | Antonietti, A., Balachandran, P., Hossaini, A., Hu, Y., & Valeriani, D. (2021). The BCI Glossary: A first proposal for a community review. Brain-Computer Interfaces, 8(3),42–53. https://doi.org/10.1080/2326263X.2021.1969789 | 1 | |
| Neurorehabilitation | # Interdisciplinary approach #Post-procedure #Patient care | A clinical process to help patients recover from neurological injury, disorder or disease secondary to central nervous system lesions. This includes physical interventions and exercises as well as psychotherapy. These are personalized to a patient’s condition and their advancement through the recovery process. | A treatment program that helps people recover after serious brain, spinal cord or other nervous system injuries, disorders or diseases. It includes physical exercises and therapy to help them relearn how to control their body. The program is customized to each person’s needs. | Khan, F., Amatya, B., Galea, M. P., Gonzenbach, R., & Kesselring, J. (2017). Neurorehabilitation: Applied neuroplasticity. Journal of Neurology, 264, 603–615. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-016-8307-9 | 1 | |
| Neurotechnology | A field of science and engineering that interfaces the nervous system with technical devices, with the goal of exploring brain functions, deciphering the neural code, and treating diseases and disorders. | A type of science and engineering that connects machines to the brain or other parts of the nervous system. It helps us understand how the brain works and can also be used to treat brain and nerve problems. | Stieglitz, T. (2021). Why neurotechnologies? About the purposes, opportunities, and limitations of neurotechnologies in clinical applications. Neuroethics, 14(1),5–16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12152-019-09406-7 | 1 | ||
| New Technology Add-on Payment (NTAP) | #Reimbursement | A policy established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in the United States designed to provide additional reimbursement to hospitals for the use of new and innovative medical technologies that are not yet fully accounted for under the standard Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Groups (MS-DRGs) payment system. This policy seeks to encourage the adoption of innovative medical technologies that can improve patient outcomes during the early stages of technology implementation. | NTAP is a rule in the U.S. that gives hospitals extra money when they use new and helpful medical tools or treatments. This helps hospitals try out new technology that might help patients get better, even if those tools aren’t fully paid for yet under normal rules. | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). New medical services and new technologies. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/new-medical-services-and-new-technologies | 1 | |
| Noninvasive BCI | Types of BCI | In noninvasive BCI (contrary to Invasive BCI),signals are detected without implantation in the brain, EEG is an example. | Devices that detect brain signals from outside the body without needing surgery, such as EEG systems, which measure brain activity through the scalp. | Wolpaw, J., & Wolpaw, E. W. (2012). Brain-computer interfaces: Principles and practice. Oxford University Press. | 1 | |
| Open-Loop Stimulation | A system applying a constant pattern of stimulation (for example, pulse trains with fixed amplitude and frequency) continuously in time regardless of the disease symptoms. The stimulation parameters in these systems are changed in frequency at clinician visits. | A predetermined stimulation pattern that doesn't adapt to changes in the target tissue, such as with deep brain stimulation (DBS). | Shanechi, M. M. (2019). Brain–machine interfaces from motor to mood. Nature Neuroscience, 22(10),1554–1564. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-019-0488-5 | 1 | ||
| Open-Loop BCI | Types of BCI | A system where the user's brain signals are translated into device commands, but the system doesn't provide any indication back to the user about how well the device is responding to those commands. This approach is often used to study brain activity without external influence. | A system where the user's brain signals are translated into device commands, but the system doesn't provide any indication back to the user about how well the device is responding to those commands. This approach is often used to study brain activity without external influence. | Jarosiewicz, B., Chase, S. M., Fraser, G. W., Velliste, M., Yu, B. M., & Schwartz, A. B. (2013). Advantages of closed-loop calibration in brain–computer interfaces for neuroprosthetic control. Journal of Neural Engineering, 10(4),046012. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-2560/10/4/046012 | 1 | |
| Paralysis | Paralysis of voluntary muscles means loss of contraction due to interruption of one or more motor pathways from the brain to the muscle fibers. Although the word paralysis is often used interchangeably to mean either complete or partial loss of muscle strength, it is preferable to use paralysis or plegia for complete or severe loss of muscle strength, and paresis for partial or slight loss. Motor paralysis results from deficits of the upper motor neurons (corticospinal, corticobulbar, or subcorticospinal). | Paralysis means you can’t move part of your body, usually because of damage to the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. | National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Paralysis (Concept ID: C0522224) – MedGen – NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/105510 | 1 | ||
| Paraplegia | Severe or complete loss of motor function in the lower extremities and lower portions of the trunk. | Severe or complete loss of the ability move your legs or the lower part of your body. | National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). Paraplegia (Concept ID: C0030486) – MedGen – NCBI. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/medgen/45323 | 1 | ||
| Participant | 1 | |||||
| Participant or Subject | A human who participates in a clinical trial, either as a patient or healthy volunteer. The term "subject" is interchangeable with "participant" or "volunteer". | A participant is a person who takes part in a medical study. They can be someone who is sick or someone who is healthy and wants to help with research. | U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (n.d.). Chart comparing FDA regulations and the Common Rule. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://www.fda.gov/science-research/good-clinical-practice-educational-materials/comparison-fda-and-hhs-human-subject-protection-regulations | 1 | ||
| Passive electrode | BCI Components | An electrode that does not perform a chemical reaction. Also, an electrode that only records neural signals (i.e., does not provide stimulation currents). Also, an electrode lacking additional electronics (e.g., the pre-amplifier). | A small device that picks up brain signals but doesn’t send anything back. It doesn’t have extra parts like amplifiers. | Kane, N., Acharya, J., Beniczky, S., Caboclo, L., Finnigan, S., Kaplan, P. W., Shibasaki, H., Pressler, R., & van Putten, M. J. A. M. (2017). A revised glossary of terms most commonly used by clinical electroencephalographers and updated proposal for the report format of the EEG findings: Revision 2017. Clinical Neurophysiology Practice, 2, 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnp.2017.07.002 Xu, J., Mitra, S., Van Hoof, C., Yazicioglu, R. F., & Makinwa, K. A. A. (2017). Active electrodes for wearable EEG acquisition: Review and electronics design methodology. IEEE Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 10, 187–198. https://doi.org/10.1109/RBME.2017.2766360 | 1 | |
| Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) | Standardized, validated survey tools that assess impact of an intervention on one or more aspects of patients' health status. | Tools used to measure feedback directly from participants in a clinical trial. These tools can be as simple as a single question, like rating pain on a scale, or more complex, like detailed questionnaires covering various aspects of health. PROMs can involve surveys, interviews, or diaries. | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, & Center for Devices and Radiological Health. (2006). Guidance for industry: Patient-reported outcome measures—Use in medical product development to support labeling claims (Draft guidance). Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 4(1),Article 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-4-79 | 1 | ||
| Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO) | Any report coming directly from patients (i.e., study subjects) about a health condition and its treatment without amendment or interpretation of the patient’s response by a clinician or anyone else. | Any feedback directly from the participant about how they feel. This can include information on their daily life, symptoms, side effects, or overall health. PROs can help measure things only the patient can describe, like how much pain they are in or if they feel depressed. | U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research; Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research; & Center for Devices and Radiological Health. (2006). Guidance for industry: Patient-reported outcome measures—Use in medical product development to support labeling claims (Draft guidance). Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 4(1),Article 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-4-79 | 1 | ||
| Payor | Payer | "Payors include government payors such as the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services(CMS),private health plans, health technology assessment groups, and others who provide input into coverage, procurement, and reimbursement decisions." | A payor is a group or company that helps pay for people’s medical care. This can include the government, insurance companies, or other groups. | Center for Devices and Radiological Health. (n.d.). Device coverage initiatives: Connecting with payors. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/cdrh-innovation/medical-device-coverage-initiatives-connecting-payors-payor-communication-task-force | 1 | |
| Primary Outcome Measure | In a clinical study’s protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention. | The main result that researchers look at in a medical study to see if a treatment works. | ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Glossary of common site terms. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/study-basics/glossary | 1 | ||
| Quality of Life (QOL) | A generic concept reflecting concern with the modification and enhancement of life attributes, e.g., physical, political, moral, social environment as well as health and disease. It is an individual's perception of their position in life in the context of the culture and value systems in which they live and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards and concerns. | How good or comfortable someone feels about their life. It includes things like health, safety, happiness, and how well their needs and goals are being met. | World Health Organization. (n.d.). WHOQOL: Measuring quality of life. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tools/whoqol | 1 | ||
| Raw Signal | Unprocessed or minimally processed electrical activity recorded from the brain using neuroimaging techniques, such as Electroencephalography (EEG),Magnetoencephalography (MEG),or Electrocorticography (ECoG). These signals represent the direct output from the recording sensors before any significant filtering, artifact removal, or feature extraction has been applied. | The recorded electrical activity of the brain that has not been cleaned up or changed. | 1 | |||
| Reactive BCI | #TypesOfBCI | In reactive BCI, brain signals are generated in reaction to an external stimulation: All audio, video and pain stimuli cause a reactive signal in the brain that can be used as control signals. | A type of BCI system that uses brain signals that happen when something outside, like a sound or picture, makes someone react. The system can use these signals to help control a computer or device. | Khan, M. J., & Hong, K. S. (2015). Passive BCI based on drowsiness detection: An fNIRS study. Biomedical Optics Express, 6(10),4063–4078. https://doi.org/10.1364/BOE.6.004063 | 1 | |
| Real-Time Neural Processing | #technology, #signalprocessing | The immediate analysis and interpretation of neural signals as they are received, enabling timely responses in brain-computer interface applications. | Analyzing brain signals right away so devices can respond immediately, like in real-time communication or control systems. | 1 | ||
| Reference Electrode | BCI Components | Any electrode against which the potential variations of another electrode are measured. Specifically, a suitable reference electrode is historically connected to the input terminal of an EEG amplifier and placed so as to minimize the likelihood of recording the same EEG activity as detected by an exploring electrode (connected to the input terminal of the same amplifier),or of other activities. | An electroded placed in a part of the body or brain that doesn't measure much brain activity. It is used as a baseline to help measure changes in other electrodes that are detecting brain signals. | Kane, N., Acharya, J., Beniczky, S., Caboclo, L., Finnigan, S., Kaplan, P. W., Shibasaki, H., Pressler, R., & van Putten, M. J. A. M. (2017). A revised glossary of terms most commonly used by clinical electroencephalographers and updated proposal for the report format of the EEG findings: Revision 2017. Clinical Neurophysiology Practice, 2, 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnp.2017.07.002 | 1 | |
| Regulatory Oversight | #Policy, #Legal, #Neurotechnology | The policies and standards established by government agencies and authorized bodies to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of medical devices. This involves premarket evaluation, clinical trials, approval processes, post-market surveillance, and compliance with standards to protect patient safety and uphold public health. | Policies, rules, and systems that make sure medical devices, like brain implants, are safe and work. | 1 | ||
| Reimbursement | In the context of healthcare, Reimbursement refers to the process where healthcare providers, such as doctors or hospitals, are paid back for the costs of the services or treatments they have provided to patients. This repayment typically comes from health insurance companies or government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The reimbursement process typically includes three separate elements: coding, coverage, and payment. Source: CMS.gov | Reimbursement is when doctors or hospitals get paid back for the care they give to patients. This money usually comes from health insurance or government programs like Medicare. | 1 | |||
| Resting-state | Process Step | A condition in which the brain's electrical activity is recorded using EEG while the patient is not performing any specific task or following instructions. | A recording of brain activity when the person is not doing anything. | Corchs, S., Chioma, G., Dondi, R., Gasparini, F., Manzoni, S., Markowska-Kacznar, U., Mauri, G., Zoppis, I., & Morreale, A. (2019). Computational methods for resting-state EEG of patients with disorders of consciousness. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, Article 738. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.00738 | 1 | |
| Safety Outcome Measure | Safety outcomes typically include all adverse events that occur during the trial or after approval. Adverse events are typically analyzed for the relationship to the device and the procedure, and tracked throughout the product life cycle. | A safety outcome measure is used in a medical study to keep track of anything that goes wrong, like side effects or problems caused by a treatment or device. | 1 | |||
| Scar Tissue (Glial) | #Patients, #ClinicalPractice | Fibrotic or gliotic tissue formed through local inflammation around the implant. This tissue replaces normal cerebral tissue and can act as a physical barrier between the implant and brain tissue. This can decrease the quality of the signal recorded by the implant. | A layer of tissue that forms in the brain around an implant because of inflammation. It can block the implant from working well by getting in the way of brain signals. | Polikov, V. S., Block, M. L., Fellous, J. M., Hong, J. S., & Reichert, W. M. (2006). In vitro model of glial scarring around neuroelectrodes chronically implanted in the CNS. Biomaterials, 27(31),5368–5376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biomaterials.2006.06.012 | 1 | |
| Secondary Outcome Measure | In a clinical study’s protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. | A result that researchers plan to check in a medical study, but not the main thing they’re looking at. Gives helpful information about how the treatment works. | ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Glossary of common site terms. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/study-basics/glossary | 1 | ||
| Sensitivity | The amount of input voltage that is mapped by one digital bit of the analog to digital converter (ADC). | Sensitivity tells us the smallest brain signal the device can pick up and turn into digital information. It shows how much electric signal is needed to change what the computer sees by one step. | Kane, N., Acharya, J., Beniczky, S., Caboclo, L., Finnigan, S., Kaplan, P. W., Shibasaki, H., Pressler, R., & van Putten, M. J. A. M. (2017). A revised glossary of terms most commonly used by clinical electroencephalographers and updated proposal for the report format of the EEG findings: Revision 2017. Clinical Neurophysiology Practice, 2, 170–185. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnp.2017.07.002 | 1 | ||
| Sensor | BCI Components | A device that records or detects physical signals (e.g., electromagnetic signals generated by the brain). | A device that picks up signals from the body, like electrical signals from the brain, and sends them to a computer or machine. | Panoulas, K. J., Hadjileontiadis, L. J., & Panas, S. M. (2010). Brain–computer interface (BCI): Types, processing perspectives and applications. In D. M. Dubois, S. Omatu, & S. Rodríguez (Eds.),Smart innovation, systems and technologies (Vol. 3, pp. 299–321). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-04070-2_23 Wolpaw, J. R., Loeb, G. E., Allison, B. Z., Donchin, E., do Nascimento, O. F., Heetderks, W. J., Nijboer, F., Shain, W. G., & Turner, J. N. (2006). BCI Meeting 2005: Workshop on signals and recording methods. IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, 14(2),138–141. https://doi.org/10.1109/TNSRE.2006.875548 | 1 | |
| Sensorimotor Cortex | #neurophysiology | A composite area of the cerebral cortex concerned with motor control and sensory perception comprising the motor cortex areas, the somatosensory areas, the gustatory cortex, the olfactory areas, the auditory cortex, and the visual cortex. | The part of the brain that helps you feel things and move your body. It includes areas that control touch, movement, taste, smell, hearing, and sight. | U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). MeSH browser: D066191. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?ui=D066191 | 1 | |
| Sensorimotor Rhythms | SMRs | Neural oscillations recorded over areas of the sensorimotor cortices of the brain mainly in three frequency ranges: Mu, Beta, and Gamma. It is the idling rhythm for the motor strip, the long thin area located on top of the head between the ears. As SMR increases, a person’s body becomes more relaxed. Hyperactive (ADHD) children have very little SMR activity. | Oscillating brain waves that are observed in the sensorimotor cortex of the brain and are associated with motor control and sensory processing. | Gibson, R.M.; Owen, A.M.; Cruse, D. Brain-computer interfaces for patientswith disorders of consciousness., Progress in brain research 2016, 228, 241-91. | 1 | |
| Serious Adverse Event | An adverse event that results in death, is life-threatening, requires inpatient hospitalization or extends a current hospital stay, results in an ongoing or significant incapacity or interferes substantially with normal life functions, or causes a congenital anomaly or birth defect. Medical events that do not result in death, are not life-threatening, or do not require hospitalization may be considered serious adverse events if they put the participant in danger or require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the results listed above. | A bad reaction to a treatment that can be dangerous. It might cause death, require a hospital stay, make someone very sick or disabled, or affect a baby before birth. Even if it’s not that bad in the beginning, it’s still serious if it could become very harmful without quick medical help. | ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Glossary of common site terms. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/study-basics/glossary | 1 | ||
| Signal Acquisition | Signal acquisition involves measuring brain signals with a specific sensor modality, such as scalp or implantable electrodes for electrophysiological activity, or fMRI for metabolic activity. These signals are amplified to levels appropriate for electronic processing and may be filtered to eliminate electrical noise or other unwanted characteristics, like 60-Hz power line interference. Once processed, the signals are digitized and sent to a computer. | Signal acquisition is the process of picking up brain signals using tools like sensors on the head or inside the brain. These signals are made stronger, cleaned up, and then sent to a computer so they can be studied or used to control a machine. | 1 | |||
| Signal Processing | Neural signal processing is a specialized area of signal processing aimed at extracting information or decoding intent from neural signals recorded from the central or peripheral nervous system. | When a computer looks at brain signals and tries to understand what they mean. It helps turn the brain's electrical activity into useful information. | Vinjamuri, R. (Ed.). (2020). Advances in neural signal processing. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81424 | 1 | ||
| Silently Attempted Speech | Silently attempted speech refers to the neural or muscular activity generated when a person tries to speak without producing audible sound. It involves the activation of speech-related brain regions or articulatory muscles, and can be decoded using silent speech interfaces (SSIs) to restore or enable communication. | When someone tries to talk without making any sound. The mouth still moves as it would during normal speech, and devices can measure activity in brain areas involved in silently speaking. | Gonzalez-Lopez, J. A., Gomez-Alanis, A., Martín Doñas, J. M., Pérez-Córdoba, J. L., & Gomez, A. M. (2020). Silent speech interfaces for speech restoration: A review. IEEE Access, 8, 177995–178021. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.3026579 | 1 | ||
| Single Unit Activity | Refers to the timing of action potential 'spikes' elicited by individual neurons. | The recording of signals from one brain cell (neuron) at a time. | Teleńczuk, B., & Destexhe, A. (2015). Local field potential, relationship to unit activity. In D. Jaeger & R. Jung (Eds.),Encyclopedia of computational neuroscience (pp. 1579–1584). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-7320-6_705-1 | 1 | ||
| Slow Cortical Potentials | SCPs A feature of spontaneous cortical activity that appears as slowly varying potential shifts of the EEG, ranging from 0.5 to several tends of seconds (typically with a frequency below 1 Hz). Might be triggered by external stimuli or self-induced. Due to their very low frequency fluctuations, it has been postulated that SCPs can integrate information across different cortical regions and this may constitute a fundamental neural feature in the functioning of consciousness. Following this reasoning, the strength of SCP phase synchrony is of interest in the context of mental training that can promote enhanced awareness and self-regulation of attention. | Very slow brain signals that can last for many seconds. They can happen on their own or be triggered by something outside the body. Scientists think these signals may help different parts of the brain work together and could be important for things like focus and awareness. | Gevensleben, H., Albrecht, B., Lütcke, H., Auer, T., Dewiputri, W. I., Schweizer, R., Moll, G., Heinrich, H., & Rothenberger, A. (2014). Neurofeedback of slow cortical potentials: Neural mechanisms and feasibility of a placebo-controlled design in healthy adults. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8, Article 890. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00890 | 1 | ||
| Social Limitation | A restriction attributed to social policy or barriers (structural or attitudinal) that limit individuals, particularly those with disabilities, from performing specific tasks or that deny them access to the services and opportunities associated with full participation in society. | Something in society (rules, buildings, or people’s attitudes),that makes it harder for someone, especially a person with a disability, to do certain things or take part fully in everyday life. | American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Social limitation. In APA dictionary of psychology. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://dictionary.apa.org/social-limitation | 1 | ||
| Somatosensory Evoked Potential | Electric deflections elicited on the contralateral areas of the brain with tactile stimuli. | Small brain signal that happens when the body feels a touch. It shows up on the opposite side of the brain from where the sensation was felt. | Snyder, A. Z. (1992). Steady-state vibration evoked potentials: Description of technique and characterization of responses. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology/Evoked Potentials Section, 84(3),257–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-5597(92)90050-T | 1 | ||
| Speech Decoding | #speech | The process of tranlsating neural activity into phonemes, words, sentences, or other speech-related outputs. | The process of turning brain activity related to speaking into words, sentences, or other forms of speech. | 1 | ||
| Speech Neuroprosthesis / Neural Speech Prostheses | A speech prosthesis is an assistive system that leverages real-time signal acquisition, neural or physiological signal processing, and machine learning-based decoding to translate brain, nerve, or muscle activity associated with speech production into an intelligible auditory or textual representation. or Speech neuroprosthesis is a device that uses algorithms to translate brain activity during intended speech into communication signals, for example, text (such as words or sentences on a screen),acoustics (such as vocalized sounds or phrases) or facial movements that accompany speech: | A device that helps people talk when they can’t speak out loud. It reads signals from the brain or muscles when a person tries to talk and turns them into words on a screen, sounds, or mouth movements. | Silva, A. B., Littlejohn, K. T., Liu, J. R., Moses, D. A., & Chang, E. F. (2024). The speech neuroprosthesis. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 25(7),473–492. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41583-024-00819-9 | 1 | ||
| Spike Patterns | A stereotyped sequence of action potentials (spikes) with a precise and fixed temporal and spatial organization. | Specific patterns of brain cell activity, or 'spikes', defined by their timing and order. | Eyherabide, H.G.; Rokem, A.; Herz, A.V.M.; Samengo, I. Bursts generate a nonreduciblespike-pattern code, Frontiers in Neuroscience 2009, 3 (MAY). http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/neuro.01.002.2009/abstract | 1 | ||
| Standard of Care (SOC) | #comparator #evidence, #clinical impact | The degree of skill, care, knowledge and attention ordinarily possessed and exercised by practitioners of the medical profession under like circumstances. | The usual and proper way doctors are expected to treat patients, using the same level of skill and attention as other doctors would. | Aicher, R. H. (2016). What standard of care? Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 36(3),376–378. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjv238 National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Standard of care. In MeSH browser. U.S. National Institutes of Health. https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov | 1 | |
| Steady-state Evoked Potential (SSEPs) | Signal Description | Repetitive patterns of oscillation in the electrical activity of the brain evoked by a sensory stimulus. | Repeating brain signals that happen when the brain responds to something specific you see, hear, or feel. | Allison, B. Z., Faller, J., & Neuper, C. (2012). BCIs that use steady-state visual evoked potentials or slow cortical potentials. In J. Wolpaw & E. W. Wolpaw (Eds.),Brain–computer interfaces: Principles and practice (pp. 241–259). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195388855.003.0012 | 1 | |
| Steady-State Visual Evoked Potential | Signal Description | SSVEPs are detected when a user views one or more visual stimuli that each oscillate at a different constant frequency. When the user focuses attention on one such stimulus, neural activity may be detected over occipital areas at corresponding frequencies. | Brain signals that happen when someone looks at a flashing light at a specific frequency. | Allison, B. Z., Faller, J., & Neuper, C. (2012). BCIs that use steady-state visual evoked potentials or slow cortical potentials. In J. Wolpaw & E. W. Wolpaw (Eds.),Brain–computer interfaces: Principles and practice (pp. 241–259). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195388855.003.0012 | 1 | |
| Stereoelectroencephalography | Stereo EEG, SEEG | Sensing method | Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) is a minimally invasive surgery that can locate areas in your brain where difficult-to-treat epileptic seizures begin. Neurosurgeons place electrodes in deeper and more extensive areas of the brain than a regular electroencephalogram (EEG) can reach. SEEG helps providers figure out whether a patient can receive precisely targeted treatment, including surgery (resection) to remove brain cells that cause seizures. Providers may also use SEEG during surgery or to guide other therapies for epilepsy. | A procedure where doctors place tiny wires deep in the brain to find locations where hard-to-treat seizures start. It helps them plan the best treatment to stop the seizures. | ClinicalTrials.gov. (n.d.). Glossary of common site terms. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://clinicaltrials.gov/study-basics/glossary | 1 |
| Stereotactic Neurosurgery | #Procedure #Neurosurgery | Stereotactic neurosurgery is the technique for locating targets of surgical interest within the brain relative to an external frame of reference. The technique uses a three-dimensional coordinate system allowing the surgeon to locate and target small areas within the brain, and aids in precisely placing surgical tools or electrodes. | A type of brain surgery that uses a 3D map to help doctors navigate, find, and treat very small areas inside the brain. It helps them place tools or wires in the right location. | Galloway, R. L., & Maciunas, R. J. (1990). Stereotactic neurosurgery. Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering, 18(3),181–205. | 1 | |
| Stimulus Onset, Asynchrony | Signal Description | A time interval between the onset of two consecutive stimuli. | The amount of time between two things happening, like two lights flashing or two sounds playing. | Meinicke, P., Kaper, M., Hoppe, F., Heumann, M., & Ritter, H. (2003). Improving transfer rates in brain–computer interfacing: A case study. In S. Thrun, L. K. Saul, & B. Schölkopf (Eds.),Advances in neural information processing systems (Vol. 16, pp. 1131–1138). MIT Press. | 1 | |
| Stream | One or multi-channel set of messages from one capturing specified device to one receiving specified device. | Flow of information, like brain signals, sent from one device to another. It can have one or many parts moving together. | Daly, J. J., & Huggins, J. E. (2015). Brain–computer interface: Current and emerging rehabilitation applications. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 96(3, Suppl),S1–S7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2014.10.023 | 1 | ||
| Subdural Electrodes | #Neurotechnology, #Surgery, #ModularComponents | A subdural electrode is a grid-like neural interface implanted beneath the dura mater and in direct contact with the cortical surface to record electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals or deliver electrical stimulation for functional mapping and neuromodulation. | A small grid placed on the surface of the brain, under its protective covering, to pick up brain signals or send small electric pulses to help doctors study or treat brain problems. | Lesser, R. P., Crone, N. E., & Webber, W. R. S. (2010). Subdural electrodes. Clinical Neurophysiology, 121(9),1376–1392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2010.04.037 | 1 | |
| Subjective Quality of Life (QoL) | A multi-dimensional construct that includes an individual's personal perception of their life position, taking into account their cultural context, values, goals, expectations, and concerns, encompassing a multidimensional view of their physical, psychological, and social well-being; essentially, how they feel about their life overall. Source: WHO | How a person feels about their life, including their health, emotions, and relationships. It depends on their own thoughts, goals, and what’s important to them. | 1 | |||
| Quadriplegia | Tetraplegia | "A symptom of paralysis that affects all a person’s limbs and body from the neck down." (Cleveland Clinic) | "A symptom of paralysis that affects all a person’s limbs and body from the neck down." (Cleveland Clinic) | Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Quadriplegia (tetraplegia). Retrieved June 10, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23974-quadriplegia-tetraplegia | 1 | |
| Theta Rhythm | Theta oscillation, Theta band A 4–7 Hz oscillation. The theta rhythm is one of the slowest oscillations in the normal waking state. | A slow brain wave that happens when you’re sleepy, relaxed, or daydreaming. It moves at a speed of 4 to 7 times per second. | Baars, B. J., & Gage, N. M. (2012). Fundamentals of cognitive neuroscience: A beginner's guide (1st ed., pp. 1–463). Academic Press. | 1 | ||
| Training - BCI Learning | A process by which the end-user learns to generate specific cortical activity patterns to control external devices effectively and the BCI system learns to interpret those patterns. Major approaches that have been used for BCI learning include computer-assisted learning, co-adaptive learning, operant conditioning, and sensory feedback. | When a person practices using their brain to control a device, like a computer or robot. The person learns to produce certain brain signals, such as through attempted actions, and the system learns how to understand them. | Hiremath, S. V., Chen, W., Wang, W., Foldes, S., Yang, Y., Tyler-Kabara, E. C., Collinger, J. L., & Boninger, M. L. (2015). Brain–computer interface learning for systems based on electrocorticography and intracortical microelectrode arrays. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 9, Article 29. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2015.00029 | 1 | ||
| Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation | A physically noninvasive tool for treatment or studying the human brain. A pulsed magnetic field creates current flow in the brain and can temporarily excite or inhibit specific areas. TMS of the motor cortex can produce a muscle twitch or block movement; TMS of the occipital cortex can produce visual phosphenes or scotomas. TMS can also alter the functioning of the brain beyond the time of stimulation, offering potential for therapy for conditions such as pain or depression. | A tool that uses magnets to stimulate parts of the brain from outside the body. It can make muscles move, change what you see, or help treat problems like pain or depression. | Hallett, M. (2000). Transcranial magnetic stimulation and the human brain. Nature, 406(6792),147–150. https://www.nature.com/articles/35018000 | 1 | ||
| Vascular Electrode | #SensorType #Electrode | Electrode placed inside a blood vessel that can record neural information. | A small device placed inside a blood vessel to pick up brain signals without going into the brain. | Weiner, G. M., Ozpinar, A., & Ducruet, A. (2016). Endovascular access for cortical mapping. Neurosurgery, 79(2),N22–N23. https://doi.org/10.1227/NEU.0000000000001357 | 1 | |
| Words Per Minute | WPM | A common measure of typing rate performance using an iBCI, often measured in units of number of words per minute (wpm). | How many words someone can type, in one minute. It's used to measure how fast a brain-computer system can communicate. | Pandarinath, C., Nuyujukian, P., Blabe, C. H., Sorice, B. L., Saab, J., Willett, F. R., Hochberg, L. R., Shenoy, K. V., & Henderson, J. M. (2017). High performance communication by people with paralysis using an intracortical brain–computer interface. eLife, 6, e18554. https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.18554 | 1 |