Hijacking a Handshake: Illinois Bioengineering Professor Jenny Amos Demonstrates Neural Implant Vulnerabilities on Capitol Hill

Laura Hahn Teaching Professor Jenny Amos brought a live, interactive neurotechnology demonstration to Capitol Hill for the Coalition for National Science Foundation (CNSF) Congressional Showcase to raise awareness of neural implant vulnerabilities. She was selected to present by the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), which is a non-profit organization that focuses on advocacy, public engagement, and programs on elevating medical and biological engineering.

The demonstration used a surface electromyography (EMG) setup to illustrate how easily bio-electrical signals can be intercepted and transmitted to control motor function. By placing surface electrode pads on the forearm of a "controller" volunteer and stimulation pads on a "receiver" volunteer, the team showed that flexing a forearm muscle triggers an amplified electrical pulse that causes the second volunteer’s hand to twitch involuntarily.

The demonstration focused on three major policy takeaways. “Firstly,” explained Professor Amos, “software patches alone cannot secure ultra-low-power microelectronics; federal research must continue driving hardware-level cryptographic innovation. Second, medical device regulations must mandate automated on-chip anomaly detection and neutral default states when signal links are compromised. Finally, translating complex cyber-physical risks into clear clinical guidance ensures doctors and patients retain complete confidence and data sovereignty over connected life-saving devices.”

While the tabletop kit uses basic surface electrodes, the team emphasized that it operates on the exact same physiological principles as implanted medical devices—such as deep brain stimulators (DBS), pacemakers, and spinal cord stimulators (SCS). Over 54% of the U.S. population is affected by a neurological condition, and an estimated 10% of Americans will receive an implanted medical device during their lifetime.

The project addresses a critical hardware bottleneck. "Traditionally, medical security software was retrofitted onto existing hardware” said Amos. “In miniature neural implants, heavy encryption algorithms drain micro-batteries rapidly or generate excess thermal energy that can damage living tissue. NSF funding allows our team to invent ultra-low-power, hardware-enabled defenses—including custom chips with on-chip AI anomaly detection and post-quantum cryptography—protecting patients without compromising battery longevity or biological safety."

The demonstration highlights ongoing work supported by a $3.5 Million NSF Smart & Connected Communities (S&CC) Award (#2531225), titled "From Technology to Humans: Protecting Users of Neural and Medical Implant Technologies Through Resilience and Safety Engineering."

Professor Jenny Amos leads the community engagement and stakeholder research for the grant, ensuring the perspectives of patients, clinicians, and medical device manufacturers directly shape the security architectures and regulatory frameworks.

In addition to Amos, the project has many collaborators across numerous institutions, including Professors Kevin Fu (PI) and Xuan ‘Silvia’ Zhang from Northeastern University, Professor Wayne Burleson from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Dr. Julian Goldman from Harvard University and Massachusetts General Hospital, and Dr. Erika Petersen from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.