Newsletter

OPINION

October 2019

Ricardo Chavarriaga

Development of brain-computer interface technologies is a long term endeavour that faces multiple challenges. The transition from the controlled conditions of research laboratories to real-life is paved with uncertainties about multiple factors that affect human and machine performance. The Cybathlon tries to address these difficulties by setting up an event in which people with disabilities can compete on several disciplines where they perform day-to-day activities using state-of-the-art assistive technologies [1].

OPINION

October 2019

Christian I. Penaloza and Shuichi Nishio

Augmenting Human Capabilities

As humans, we have always tried to augment our physical and cognitive capabilities to enhance the strength or endurance of our bodies or minds. Although the concept of human augmentation is not new, with the fast development of new robotic systems, AI and genetic engineering, it has accelerated in the last decade and will continue accelerating even further in the upcoming decades. The expected outcome will be a new kind of human beings, superhumans or cyborgs, that will seamlessly integrate machines with their human bodies and will have unprecedented capabilities to achieve things that today’s humans are not capable of.

RESEARCH

April 2019

Ayaz H., Izzetoglu K., Izzetoglu M., Onaral B., Ben-Dor B.

Early identification of intracranial hematomas in patients with traumatic brain injury is crucial for the successful outcome of the intervention, specifically since expansion of the hemorrhage can result in debilitating and sometimes fatal outcomes. ‘Golden period’ refers to the time immediately following head trauma where assessment of the neurological condition and medical intervention of a victim is most needed and can significantly reduce the mortality and morbidity rate. Led by Britton Chance, we and an extended team from University of Pennsylvania, Baylor and Drexel Universities developed a handheld brain hematoma detector for early triage and diagnosis of head trauma victims….

RESEARCH

April 2019

Seeber M., Michel C.

A number of serious diseases, i.e. Parkinson’s, Tourette syndrome and obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) are directly associated with subcortical regions. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is applied as a therapy for severe cases suffering from these diseases. While subcortical areas are known to play an important role in mediating interactions in large-scale networks, it is less clear how their dysfunction affect certain diseases. Furthermore, it is an ongoing discussion how DBS influences subcortical-cortical networks dynamics leading to the treatment’s outcome. In order to study electrophysiological dynamics in subcortical regions, implanted electrodes in these areas are needed. This neurosurgery is naturally only justifiable and possible in the framework of deep brain stimulation therapy, which restricts investigating subcortical dynamics in humans to a few case studies.

RESEARCH

April 2019

Violante I.R., Leech R., Lorenz R.

Brain stimulation is an increasingly popular field, capturing the creativity of DIY brain hackers and neurotechnology enthusiasts. Among scientists and clinicians, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is seen as a tool to causally investigate brain-behaviour relations and a promising treatment for a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders [1]. Here we introduce our novel approach, Neuroadaptive Bayesian Optimization, designed to tackle limitations associated with conventional applications of NIBS, and define individualised stimulation protocols to inform clinical applications with optimal efficacy.

STUDENT CORNER

December 2018

The 17th International Summer School on BIO-X: Biocomplexity, Biodesign, Bioinnovation, Biomanufacturing and Bioentrepreneurship, sponsored by the NSF, the University of Houston Biomedical Engineering Department and technically co-sponsored by the IEEE Brain Initiative and the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, was held at the Chania Academy, Crete, June 11-17, 2018. This summer school was a continuation of previous summer schools. Thirty students and six distinguished and three junior faculty (post-docs) attended the 17th summer school. The NSF, the IEEE Brain Initiative and the University of Houston co-sponsored 30 students. 

RESEARCH
Bleichner M. G., Grzybowski M., Ernst S. M. A. , Kollmeier B. , Debener S. , Denk F.

While you are reading this text, pay attention to the sounds around you. How many different sounds do you notice? Where do they come from? Concentrate on one of them. Is the sound high or low pitched? Now concentrate on a different sound. Does that sound have a specific rhythm?

RESEARCH
Shuo Chen

For decades, scientists and physicians have electrically stimulated neurons deep in the brain with implanted electrodes connected through wires to a pacemaker-like device under the skin of the chest. This approach, known as deep brain stimulation (DBS), can treat patients with various neurological symptoms, such as Parkinson’s disease and major depression.

RESEARCH
Lin Yao, Ning Jiang.

Brain-computer Interface (BCI) permits a direct channel between the brain and the external environment, bypassing the physiological channel for such interaction, i.e. the neuromuscular system. This technology can be useful in medical applications, including locked-in syndrome, stroke, spinal cord injury, and cerebral palsy, as well as applications of a more general purpose such as education, ergonomics, and manufacturing. Event-related desynchronization (ERD) and synchronization (ERS) of brain signals and movement-related cortical potentials (MRCP), both of which are generated during motor imagery tasks (MI), have been shown to allow real-time, direct BCI control.

EVENT
Michael H. Smith

On October 9, 2018, the SMC Brain-Machine Interface Systems (BMI) Workshop also featured a first-of-its-kind meeting of Global Current and Emerging Brain Initiatives. This meeting was hosted by the IEEE President, James Jefferies, and Chaired by Michael H. Smith. The meeting brought together global Brain Initiative leaders and representatives from other groups working on large-scale multi-year brain projects from Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, and the US as well as representatives from the IEEE Brain Initiative, the International Neuroethics Society, industry, and other stakeholders.