Non-invasive brain-machine interface control with artificial intelligence copilots.

Motor brain-machine interfaces (BMIs) decode neural signals to help people with paralysis move and communicate. Even with important advances in the last two decades, BMIs face key obstacles to clinical viability. Invasive BMIs achieve proficient cursor and robotic arm control but require neurosurgery, posing significant risk to patients.

Dorsal periaqueductal gray ensembles represent approach and avoidance states.

Animals must balance needs to approach threats for risk assessment and to avoid danger. The dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) controls defensive behaviors, but it is unknown how it represents states associated with threat approach and avoidance. We identified a dPAG threatavoidance ensemble in mice that showed higher activity farther from threats such as the open arms of the elevated plus maze and a predator.

Shared Dorsal Periaqueductal Gray Activation Patterns during Exposure to Innate and Conditioned Threats.

The brainstem dorsal periaqueductal gray (dPAG) has been widely recognized as being a vital node orchestrating the responses to innate threats. Intriguingly, recent evidence also shows that the dPAG mediates defensive responses to fear conditioned contexts. However, it is unknown whether the dPAG displays independent or shared patterns of activation during exposure to innate and conditioned threats.