Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded North Carolina A&T State University $549,484 under the Computer and Information Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.070) on October 1, 2025, to develop direct bidirectional brain-to-brain interface (B2BI) technology enabling noninvasive neural communication between human subjects. The project combines electroencephalography-based motor-imagery brain-computer interface (BCI) technology with transcranial magnetic stimulation or other stimulation methods to facilitate direct brain-to-brain communication by reading a sender's neural activity and activating a receiver's brain without relying on traditional sensory pathways or language. The three-year effort (completion date November 30, 2028) addresses critical technological gaps in current B2BI systems by developing interfaces that work directly with neural information rather than through intermediate computer interpretation, with anticipated applications in enhanced patient communication, neurorehabilitation for stroke victims, and advanced communication capabilities for healthy users.

North Carolina State University serves as a sub-awardee under the primary grant, led by Dr. Xiaoning Jiang, with responsibility for transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) system development and testing. The NC State team will conduct phantom testing to identify optimal ultrasound parameters for the computer-brain interface and B2BI applications during Year 1 (sub-award date February 26, 2026), then assist the principal investigator with clinical and B2BI validation testing in Years 2-3. This collaborative research structure leverages specialized ultrasound engineering expertise to advance the proof-of-concept B2BI technology demonstrated since 2013 toward practical clinical and consumer applications.