SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT
Events for the 3rd week of February
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Biomedical Engineering Seminars
Mon, Feb 12, 2018 @ 12:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Talk Title: TBA
Host: Professor Qifa Zhou
Location: Olin Hall of Engineering (OHE) - 122
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Biomedical Engineering Department Guest Speaker
Mon, Feb 12, 2018 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Samantha Santacruz,
Talk Title: Pathological Neural Mechanisms and Systems-based Neurotherapies
Abstract: The brain is a complex system comprised of billions of neurons that work coherently together to control our behavior and general function. The advent of techniques such as multi-electrode recordings, microstimulation and neural imaging has provided powerful tools for modern systems neuroscience to study learning and neural adaptation, and importantly how neural function is compromised in the diseased state. In this talk, I will focus on electrical microstimulation, and how it can be used both as a tool to study brain states and a therapeutic mechanism to treat circuit-wide disorders. The first part of the talk will focus on applications of microstimulation in animal models. In this half, I will demonstrate through modulation of neural signals encoding value using microstimulation in the dorsomedial striatum that I can differentially modulate decision-making processes, which are often compromised in the disease state. I will also present results showing that closed-loop microstimulation of prefrontal areas has anxiolytic effects and modulates autonomic state. In the second part of the talk, I will focus on materials and devices for neurotherapies. When microstimulation is applied, it is advantageous to be able to probe the system and record neural activity simultaneously during stimulation. I will present work on carbon nanotube fiber microelectrodes and discuss how this novel material provides an excellent bidirectional interface with neural tissue. This will be followed with a discussion of a new device for wireless neuromodulation and recording, which utilizes a state-of-the-art ASIC for fast charge-clearing and near-perfect stimulation artifact removal. I will conclude this talk with my future directions in the development of neuroprosthetic devices and new modalities beyond microstimulation.
Host: Ellis Meng, PhD
Location: Corwin D. Denney Research Center (DRB) - 145/145A
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta
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Biomedical Engineering Department Guest Speaker
Thu, Feb 15, 2018 @ 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Alfred E. Mann Department of Biomedical Engineering
Conferences, Lectures, & Seminars
Speaker: Adam Rouse, MD, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Neuroscience Schieber Finger Movement Laboratory, University of Rochester
Talk Title: Brain-computer interfaces for the hand: Moving beyond linear models
Abstract: The field of motor brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) has advanced dramatically. Our ability to accurately decode neural activity to directly control a cursor, robotic arm, or the patient's own muscles continues to improve. However, this control remains robotic and limited compared with natural human performance. Most BCI decoding relies on each neuron having a fixed and linear relationship to a given set of degrees of freedom. In experimental results from a reach-to-grasp task, Dr. Rouse will describe the sequential phases of movement observed with EMG, kinematic, and single-unit neurophysiologic recordings. He also will show the broad tuning throughout the entire upper forelimb region of primary motor cortex to both reach location and grasp object type and how it transitions between phases of the movement. Dr. Rouse will demonstrate why this sequential, selective tuning can serve as an important principle for BCI design. By using active dimension selection and four ethologically relevant dimensions of control, he will show how a simple 16 single unit BCI can efficiently control a virtual hand to achieve eight different postures with 93 percent accuracy, with average movement times of ~1 second. By analyzing large-dimensional datasets of joint kinematics, EMG, and neural activity, he focuses on understanding how neural populations can generate motor output across a broad dynamic range with speed and precision.
Host: Ellis Meng, PhD
Location: Corwin D. Denney Research Center (DRB) - 145/145A
Audiences: Everyone Is Invited
Contact: Mischalgrace Diasanta