Exploration of the brain for optimal placement of BCI implants in paralyzed people

Modern tools in human neuroscience provide valuable new ideas for Brain-Computer Interface solutions for paralyzed people. With the increasing interest in brain implants, a more detailed knowledge of the topographical organization is needed. Research with implants is severely limited to only experimental BCI implants or patients with electrodes implanted for diagnostic purposes, hence alternative methods for research are urgently needed. We have shown that fMRI conducted with a 7 Tesla human MRI scanner, can fulfill the role of non-invasive research tool for new approaches in BCI. In this paper I discuss what 7T fMRI can reveal and present several examples of new insights relevant for BCI.