Single-trial decoding of movement intentions using functional ultrasound neuroimaging

New technologies are key to understanding the dynamic activity of neural circuits and systems in the brain. Here, we show that a minimally invasive approach based on ultrasound can be used to detect the neural correlates of movement planning, including directions and effectors. While non-human primates (NHPs) performed memory-guided movements, we used functional ultrasound (fUS) neuroimaging to record changes in cerebral blood volume with 100 μm resolution. We recorded from outside the dura above the posterior parietal cortex, a brain area important for spatial perception, multisensory integration, and movement planning. We then used fUS signals from the delay period before movement to decode the animals’ intended direction and effector. Single-trial decoding is a prerequisite to brain-machine interfaces, a key application that could benefit from this technology. These results are a critical step in the development of neuro-recording and brain interface tools that are less invasive, high resolution, and scalable. •Functional ultrasound (fUS) images motor planning activity in non-human primates•fUS neuroimaging can predict single-trial movement timing, direction, and effector•This is a critical step toward less-invasive and scalable brain-machine interfaces Norman et al. use functional ultrasound (fUS) neuroimaging to record brain activity while animals perform motor tasks. They use fUS signals to predict movement timing, direction, and effector (hand or eye). This is a critical step toward brain recording and interface tools that are less invasive, high resolution, and scalable.