Survey of Current Neuroengineering Research

Cochlear Implant

● Direct Electrical Stimulation of Auditory Nerve

● Microphone, Signal Processor, Transmission Line, Electrode Array

● http://www.utdallas.edu/~loizou/cimplants/tutorial/

Electrical Stimulation of Pleasure Centers

● Rats: Willing to go to great lengths to obtain pleasure

● Implant in hypothalamus in rats, for cancer patients, the cortex

● Humans: General pleasure, anxiety relief, approval of situation, positive change in mood, euphoria

● Not well-studied

Ratbot

● State University of NY research 2002: Sanjiv Talwar

● Whisker response stimulated

● Rats behave contrary to instinct

● Still not reliable● Potential is boundless● Dirt cheap: ~$40

Robo-Roach● University of Tokyo

micro-robotics team 2002● Wings removed under

CO2 anesthisia, backpack added, electrodes implanted in antennae

● Direct muscular control, not pleasure conditioning

● Big money: $5 million gov't grant for researchers

● Still crude

Monkey Telekinesis

● Duke, MIT Touch Lab 2000

● 96-electrode array implanted into cortex, including muscle cortex

● Output of several individual neurons recorded as monkey performed hand motions

● Signal analysis done via computer Fourier analysis and neural network simulation

● Computer analysis was able to effectively predict trajectory of hand motions (large groups of neurons coordinating)

● Signal patterns transmitted over internet to remote lab, where they controlled a robotic arm in real-time

Neuroelectric Brain-Computer Interfacing

● NASA-approved (work done at Ames, actually)

● Problem: Astronauts cannot easily utilize traditional earth devices in orbit (like a keyboard, when you're on EVA)

● Attempts to use EEG / EMG sensing of a human to control external devices

● 2001: External armband placed over forearm detected muscular nerve signals, enabling pilot to land a simulated damaged 757 by simulating piloting

● Not like a power glove

Alpha wave Brain-Computer Interfacing

● Traditionally, EEG used to detect brain electrical wave output, but this requires preparation and is extremely sensitive to disruption

● Alternative devices are external helmets/skincaps● Biofeedback used to train users to the device but

takes a long time. Stimulus-response is easier● Eventually, “telepathy” can be used to control,

well, anything (computer glasses)● IBVA Technologies, Mindswitch.com.au, sell

overpriced devices as a development platform

Kevin Warwick

● Professor of Cybernetics, U. of Reading 2002

● Implant #1 was lame radio transmitter

● Implant #2 in wrist interfaces with nervous system by means of 100-electrode array and nerves in the forearm

● Artificial sensation generated

● Control of artificial prosthesis enabled

● Signal output recorded

Neurotrophic Electrode

Artificial Vision: Method 1

Artificial Vision: Method Two

Artificial Hippocampus