Implantable Neural Interfaces for Sharks

Sharks swimming in the open ocean represent impressive examples of biological underwater sensor systems. Their chemical, electrical, and acoustic senses are finely tuned to survival in a complex, dynamic, and dangerous environment. While shark behavior and physiology is gaining increasing attention by marine biologists, the shark nervous system remains largely unexplored. However, it is the nervous system that holds an important key for understanding their sensory and motor acuities, and how this translates to behavior. The primary goal of this project was to develop an innovative implantable neural interface technology that would begin to pave the way for researchers to interface with highly specific targets in the nervous system of swimming sharks to monitor record and stimulate write neural activity. This project was focused at developing leading-edge neurotechnologies, MEMS technologies, and electronics into novel implantable neural interfaces in freely swimming sharks in order to investigate neural coding associated with sensory processing and natural behavior.