Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and systems for transient-based decoding of neural signals. In one aspect, a device such as a brain-computer interface (BCI), includes at least one processor configured to receive a plurality of neural signals from a subject. The at least one processor can detect, from the plurality of neural signals, first neural activity unique to a first defined temporal window corresponding to an onset phase of an intended action of the subject. The at least one processor can detect, from the plurality of neural signals, second neural activity unique to a second defined temporal window, occurring after the first temporal window and corresponding to an offset phase of the intended action. The at least one processor can generate at least one output indicative of the intended action, responsive to detecting at least one of the first neural activity or the second neural activity.