1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 In this episode of the Neural Implant Podcast, host Dr. Ladan Jiracek speaks with Dr. Christian Iorio-Morin, functional neurosurgeon and professor at the Université de Sherbrooke, about the evolving landscape of neurosurgery—from treating movement disorders and chronic pain to pushing the boundaries of paralysis recovery. Christian shares insights from his clinical work using gamma knife surgery, neuromodulation, and microvascular techniques, as well as his leadership on the RE-MOVE project, a large-scale initiative aiming to restore movement by reconnecting the brain and spinal cord through implantable technology. The conversation explores how modern neurosurgery is shifting from treating symptoms to rebuilding lost function, why many “paralyzed” systems still retain underlying capability, and how combining neuroscience, engineering, and patient-centered design could unlock a new generation of therapies for stroke, spinal cord injury, and beyond. Top 3 Takeaways: Most “brain stimulation” treatments actually work by shutting circuits down, not activating them.&amp;nbsp;Despite the name, therapies like deep brain stimulation, gamma knife, and ablation all achieve similar results by disrupting pathological neural circuits—essentially “jamming” the signal rather than enhancing it. Innovation in neurotech is bottlenecked by lack of access to device software and hardware.&amp;nbsp;Researchers often can’t test new ideas because commercial devices are locked down—forcing unnecessary duplication of effort and slowing progress across the field. “Neuro hype” is a real problem—and unrealistic expectations can harm patients.&amp;nbsp;Many patients overestimate what neurotechnology can do today. Setting honest expectations is critical, as current treatments improve function but rarely fully restore it. 0:55 – Do you want to introduce yourself better than I just did? 2:40 – What is Gamma Knife and how does it work? 5:20 – How does Gamma Knife compare to deep brain stimulation? 10:45 – Why do patients choose lesions over implants? 15:05 – When is neuromodulation preferred over lesion-based treatments? 20:30 – What are neural engineers getting wrong today? 21:00 – Why is it so hard to test new ideas in neuromodulation? 28:50 – Should neurostimulators be more open and accessible? 33:20 – How competition is driving innovation in neurotech 35:00 – The problem of “neuro hype” and unrealistic expectations Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions http://neuralimplantpodcast.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40807945/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/87A93A/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/200639170