Despite the ongoing proliferation of neurotechnologies and ground-breaking neuroscience and neurorehabilitation research, the lack of neurotechnology-specific standards for the scientific reporting of neural interface (NI) research (including sufficiently detailed reporting of NI systems, methods, and outcomes) continues to severely limit the ability to aggregate and meta-analyze findings from separate studies and research groups. As a result, NI research is not being effectively translated into improved knowledge of neural function, neuropathology, and recovery – nor, consequently, into neurotechnologies that deliver the best possible value to human users and their communities.

IEEE standards working group P2794 is currently working to address this problem of ‘neuroinformatic interoperability’ by developing a Reporting Standard for in vivo Neural Interface Research (RSNIR), which aims to improve the quality, transparency, replicability, and meta-analyzability of neuroscience and neurotechnology research across a wide range of NI modalities. This presentation summarizes a set of preliminary minimum reporting requirements proposed by the working group for implantable NI, as well as the group’s current and ongoing efforts to adapt these requirements for other NI types (starting with EEG-based BCIs) and to refine all requirements into a draft standard. Finally, we will highlight and share a neurotechnology stakeholder survey that our WG has recently developed to welcome feedback from the broader scientific, technological, regulatory, and clinical communities. WG P2794 remains open to participation from all such stakeholders, including neuroinformatics experts.