Neuroelectrical

Neuroelectrical refers to the electrical phenomena of the nervous system, including how neurons generate and propagate signals and how networks of cells modulate activity. It covers both biological processes and engineering methods used to measure, model, and influence neural activity.

Measurement approaches span noninvasive and invasive methods. EEG and MEG provide high-temporal-resolution signals from large neural populations; intracranial EEG and single-unit recordings reveal cellular activity; local field potentials reflect aggregate activity. Optical methods such as voltage-sensitive dyes or calcium imaging offer complementary readouts.

Applications include basic neuroscience research on information processing, sensorimotor control, memory, and perception; clinical diagnostics and therapy such as epilepsy monitoring and sleep studies; and neuromodulation therapies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), or cochlear implants. Brain-computer interfaces translate neural signals into device commands.

Related fields include neuroengineering and computational neuroscience, which model membrane dynamics and network activity (for example Hodgkin–Huxley or integrate-and-fire models) and develop neuroelectrical instrumentation. Data analysis relies on signal processing, spectral methods, spike sorting, and machine learning to interpret noisy neural signals.

Challenges in neuroelectrical research include signal quality and interpretation, risks associated with invasive procedures, limitations in spatial and temporal resolution, and ethical considerations regarding privacy and autonomy in neurotechnologies.