Intracortical microstimulation of the somatosensory cortex evokes tactile sensations, but those of individual electrodes are insufficient for functional tasks. We show that stimulating multiple electrodes with somatotopically matched projected fields improves task performance with bionic hands.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 digital issues and online access to articles
$119.00 per year
only $9.92 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to the full article PDF.
USD 39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References
Flesher, S. N. et al. A brain-computer interface that evokes tactile sensations improves robotic arm control. Science 372, 831–836 (2021). A research article that describes the integration of ICMS-based tactile feedback with bionic hands.
Bensmaia, S. J., Tyler, D. J. & Micera, S. Restoration of sensory information via bionic hands. Nat. Biomed. Eng. 7, 443–455 (2023). A review article that describes and compares current approaches to sensory restoration with a focus on bionic limbs.
Pandarinath, C. & Bensmaia, S. J. The science and engineering behind sensitized brain-controlled bionic hands. Physiol. Rev. 102, 551–604 (2022). This review discusses both the motor and sensory elements of brain–computer interfaces and their interactions.
Valle, G. et al. Tactile edges and motion via patterned microstimulation of the human cortex. Preprint at medRxiv https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.05.06.24306627 (2024). A preprint research article that details the ICMS-evoked sensations when groups of discontinuous electrodes are selected.
Callier, T., Suresh, A. K. & Bensmaia, S. J. Neural coding of contact events in somatosensory cortex. Cereb. Cortex 29, 4613–4627 (2019). A research article that examines the cortical responses to natural touch in primates using microelectrode arrays.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Greenspon, C. M. et al. Evoking stable and precise tactile sensations via multi-electrode intracortical microstimulation of the somatosensory cortex. Nat. Biomed. Eng. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-024-01299-z (2024).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moving beyond single-electrode intracortical-microstimulation-evoked tactile perception. Nat. Biomed. Eng 9, 799–800 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-024-01339-8
Published:
Version of record:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41551-024-01339-8