This invention provides a system and method for performing a surgical procedure that effectively locates and allows a user to avoid engagement with hidden nerves in tissue in real-time. The system and method employs an integrated stimulating and sensing array. The array includes a plurality of spaced-apart electrodes, which are selectively stimulated while the electrodes then sense for a neural response. Each of the electrodes is stimulated to map of the sensed tissue region for localization of nerve paths. This localization can be stored and used to control cutting of tissue. The locations can be marked as nerve-free and/or no-go regions so as to avoid nerve-containing regions in subsequent procedures or following a stimulation procedure. This marking can be by any acceptable physical and/or virtual fiducial mechanism. The array can be a single structure with all relevant electrodes or some electrodes can be provided in a separate, remote probe assembly.
