Researchers Develop Needle‑Thin Brain Implant Capable of Recording, Drug Delivery, and Stimulation

Scientists have engineered a needle‑thin brain implant that performs three functions simultaneously: it records neural activity, delivers drugs, and stimulates multiple brain regions through a single flexible fiber. In laboratory mice, the device recorded high‑resolution neural signals while injecting medication and activating targeted circuits without the need for multiple electrodes. The flexible fiber’s minimal diameter reduces tissue damage and inflammation compared with conventional probes. Researchers anticipate that the technology will enable more precise, less invasive studies of brain function and could be adapted to treat neurological disorders such as epilepsy by delivering medication directly to seizure‑prone areas while monitoring activity in real time. The next step is to refine the system for chronic implantation and to evaluate its safety and efficacy in larger animal models.