Intermediate
Closed-loop system
Also known as: Adaptive stimulation, Responsive neurostimulation, Bidirectional BCI
A neurotech device that senses brain activity and responds to it automatically, for example by stimulating only when a seizure starts.
In an open-loop device, stimulation follows fixed settings. A closed-loop device reads signals and adjusts its output in real time.
Examples include the NeuroPace RNS System for epilepsy and adaptive deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease. Bidirectional BCIs both read signals and write them back, for example by giving touch feedback from a robotic hand through stimulation of the sensory cortex.
Last updated Sep 30, 2026. Educational content, not medical advice.