The NYU ECoG Group comprises a diverse group of researchers and clinicians who are dedicated to advancing our understanding of human cognition and improving the health of people with cognitive disorders. Faculty from a number of departments and institutes at New York University, including the Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Center for Neural Science, Neuroscience Institute, Department of Psychology, Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurology, and Departments of Electrical, Biomedical, and Computer Engineering, are actively involved in this research. In addition, we collaborate with a number of external groups across the world. The group is based within the NYU Comprehensive Epilepsy Center (Director: Dr. Daniel Friedman, M.D.) and led by Dr. Adeen Flinker, Ph.D., Director of the NYU ECoG Group.

Understanding how the human brain operates requires tools that can capture neuronal and network activity in real time. Electrocorticography (ECoG), stereo EEG (sEEG) also known as intracranial EEG (iEEG), involves the surgical implantation of electrodes either on the cortical surface (ECoG) or within the brain itself (sEEG) during clinical procedures. These electrodes record electrical activity directly from neurons, offering an unparalleled window into brain function. Compared to other approaches, ECoG provides both high spatial resolution (on the order of millimeters) and high temporal resolution (on the order of milliseconds). This dual precision allows researchers to map where and when brain activity occurs with exceptional accuracy. Unlike fMRI, which infers neural activity indirectly through blood flow and metabolic changes, or scalp EEG, which records diffuse signals that are difficult to localize, ECoG captures neuronal activity at its source. Because of this, ECoG recordings enable unique insights into the neural mechanisms that underlie a broad range of human cognitive functions, including speech and language, sensory processing, memory formation, and decision-making. As a result, ECoG has become a critical methodology for advancing both neuroscience research and clinical applications.