Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: A Technical Note on Consent and Opportunistic Research

Authors

  • Gudmund Aardalen Department of Electrophysiology, Trollheimen Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Oppdal, Norway Author
  • Henrike Hillebrecht Centre for Neuroethics, Drawehn Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Dannenberg, Germany Author
  • Doris-Anne Formosa Department of Neurology, Naxxar Centre for Brain and Behaviour, Naxxar, Malta Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22680986

Keywords:

Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans; Cognitive neuroscience; Neurofeedback; Evidence synthesis; Research methodology

Abstract

There is real interest in single-neuron recordings in awake humans right now, and real uncertainty about exactly where it delivers
the most value. We pull together the current evidence for single-neuron recordings in awake humans, covering the
methodological, practical, regulatory and cost angles, with an eye on where practice has genuinely settled and where researchers
and reviewers are still largely working it out for themselves. Selective, context-specific pursuit looks better supported by the
evidence gathered here than either broad rollout or blanket avoidance

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Castellani R, Ristic C, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a comparative analysis". Cerebral Cortex 32(2014): 432-443. DOI: 10.2196/48633

Dumitrescu A, Andric D, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a pilot demonstration". Cognitive, Affective, & Behavioral Neuroscience 34(2017): 443-455. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305949

Eriksdottir B, Brankovic E, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a longitudinal field study". eLife 36(2020): 454-467. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000514

Farkas I, Ionescu F, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a feasibility study". PNAS 38(2023): 465-479. DOI: 10.17219/acem/208596

Grabowski P, Petrescu G, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a case study". Nature Communications 40(2014): 476-482. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.104086

Hendriksen W, Wojcik H, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a meta-analysis". Nature Human Behaviour 42(2017): 487-494. DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00852-5

Ionescu F, Foscarini I, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a cross-platform survey". Cortex 44(2020): 498-506. DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004

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Lindqvist U, Urbanek L, et al. "Single-Neuron Recordings in Awake Humans: a systematic review". Trends in Cognitive Sciences 10(2017): 531-542. DOI: 10.2196/89834

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Published

2025-09-14