TermOther TermsTags/CategoriesTechnical DefinitionLayperson DefinitionTechnical Definition Source
Action Potential#Neuroscience, #Anatomy, #ClinicalPracticeA 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 MH, Jessu R, Kabir R. Physiology, Action Potential. [Updated 2023 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538143/
Activities of Daily Living (ADL)ADL, Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADLs)#AssessmentAn 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 Regulaions 700.105 Definitions. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-24/subtitle-B/chapter-VII/part-700/section-700.105
Adverse Event#RegulatoryEvents 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, www.clinicaltrials.gov/study-basics/glossary. Accessed 9 July 2025.
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.“Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als. Accessed 9 July 2025.
Attempted Speech#ClinicalTrialsThe action taken by a person with vocal tract paralysis who is actively intending to speak.The action taken by a person with vocal tract paralysis who is actively intending and trying to speak.
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 (ASHA.org)
Autonomous Surgical Robot#Surgery, #ClinicalPracticeA 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.
BCI Task TrialSingle trialThe 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 Hu el, S.; Verleysen, M.; De Vos, M. Single trialclassi cation in Mobile BCI-A multiway Kernel approach, In BIOSIGNALS, 2015; pp5{11.
Beta RhythmBeta 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
Bidirectional BCIClosed Loop, Feedback#Patients, #Neurotechnology, #ClinicalPracticeA 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.
Bin Width#Neuroscience, #SignalDescription"Time, usually expressed in milliseconds (ms),elapsing between two successive sampling points in digital EEG. [1]" (IEEE)

DARREL'S PROPOSAL: 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.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
Biocompatibility#MaterialsScience, #Neurotechnology, #ClinicalPractice, #ModularComponentsA 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.
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.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
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.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
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).McFarland, Dennis J, et al. “Brain–Computer Interface (BCI) operation: Optimizing Information Transfer Rates.” Biological Psychology, vol. 63, no. 3, July 2003, pp. 237–251, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0301-0511(03)00073-5.
Brain Mapping#DataAnalysis, #EthicsPrivacy, #PatientsThe 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.
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.Angrick, M., Luo, S., Rabbani, Q. et al. Online speech synthesis using a chronically implanted brain–computer interface in an individual with ALS. Sci Rep 14, 9617 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-60277-2
Brain-to-Brain Interface#TypeOfBCI"A system for achieving brain-to-brain communication by decoding digital information from neural activity and encoding digital information back into neural activity. [14]" (IEEE)A type of BCI that allows one person's brain to send information directly to another person's 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
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.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
Calibration#DataAnalysis, #UserPriorities, #StudyEndpoints, #ProcessStep, #SingalProcessingThe process of training a neural decoder to translate an individual user's neural signals into intended commands.The process of setting up a BCI to work with the user's unique brain signals.
Care Pathway#Patients, #Evidence-BasedPractice, #PatientCare, #ClinicalPracticeA 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
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.UPDATED Jun 27. “CPT® Overview and Code Approval.” American Medical Association, 27 June 2025, www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt/cpt-overview-and-code-approval#:~:text=Category%20I:%20These%20codes%20have,not%20required%20for%20correct%20coding.
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.