Benjamin Rapoport

Benjamin Rapoport approaches neural interfaces from the dual perspective of neurosurgery and micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) engineering. At Precision Neuroscience, he developed the Layer 7 Cortical Interface, a thin-film micro-electrocorticography (micro-ECoG) strip containing 1,024 electrodes on a flexible substrate that conforms to the cortical surface without penetrating the brain tissue.

Rapoport’s position is that long-term, high-bandwidth brain-computer interfaces must prioritize biological safety and reversibility. By avoiding penetrating micro-needles, surface micro-ECoG arrays mitigate chronic neuroinflammatory responses, glial scar formation, and microvascular damage.

In the context of whole brain emulation and consciousness transfer, Rapoport’s work highlights the physical boundary conditions of human cortical interfaces: balancing the trade-off between invasive single-unit resolution and non-destructive, surface-conformable recording across large cortical surface areas.

Known for. Co-founder of Precision Neuroscience, founding member of Neuralink, and pioneer of conformable micro-electrocorticography (Layer 7 Cortical Interface)

Coverage on this site

• Paradromics Neuralink and what a real cortical interface would need August 2026

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Benjamin Rapoport is listed with the other builders, who hold that the claim is about what the hardware does, and the philosophy is left open. The positions themselves are set out in the index of consciousness theories. Every researcher covered on this site is indexed in the directory of consciousness researchers.