scholarly journals Review of Brain-Machine Interfaces Used in Neural Prosthetics with New Perspective on Somatosensory Feedback through Method of Signal Breakdown

Scientifica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel W. Vattendahl Vidal ◽  
Mathew L. Rynes ◽  
Zachary Kelliher ◽  
Shikha Jain Goodwin
Keyword(s):  
Neural Control ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
Neural Prosthetics ◽  
Somatosensory Feedback ◽  
Neuron Populations ◽  
Machine Interface ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Initial Focus ◽  
Stimulation Of

The brain-machine interface (BMI) used in neural prosthetics involves recording signals from neuron populations, decoding those signals using mathematical modeling algorithms, and translating the intended action into physical limb movement. Recently, somatosensory feedback has become the focus of many research groups given its ability in increased neural control by the patient and to provide a more natural sensation for the prosthetics. This process involves recording data from force sensitive locations on the prosthetics and encoding these signals to be sent to the brain in the form of electrical stimulation. Tactile sensation has been achieved through peripheral nerve stimulation and direct stimulation of the somatosensory cortex using intracortical microstimulation (ICMS). The initial focus of this paper is to review these principles and link them to modern day applications such as restoring limb use to those who lack such control. With regard to how far the research has come, a new perspective for the signal breakdown concludes the paper, offering ideas for more real somatosensory feedback using ICMS to stimulate particular sensations by differentiating touch sensors and filtering data based on unique frequencies.

scholarly journals Mechanistic Insights in NeuroD Potentiation of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Signaling

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa van Weert ◽  
Jacobus Buurstede ◽  
Hetty Sips ◽  
Isabel Mol ◽  
Tanvi Puri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factor ◽  
Mood Disorders ◽  
Chromatin Remodeling ◽  
Mineralocorticoid Receptor ◽  
Protective Factor ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Transcription Factor Family ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)-mediated signaling in the brain has been suggested as a protective factor in the development of psychopathology, in particular mood disorders. We recently identified genomic loci at which either MR or the closely related glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binds selectively, and found members of the NeuroD transcription factor family to be specifically associated with MR-bound DNA in the rat hippocampus. We show here using forebrain-specific MR knockout mice that GR binding to MR/GR joint target loci is not affected in any major way in the absence of MR. Neurod2 binding was also independent of MR binding. Moreover, functional comparison with MyoD family members indicates that it is the chromatin remodeling aspect of NeuroD, rather than its direct stimulation of transcription, that is responsible for potentiation of MR-mediated transcription. These findings suggest that NeuroD acts in a permissive way to enhance MR-mediated transcription, and they argue against competition for DNA binding as a mechanism of MR- over GR-specific binding.

scholarly journals Biological and bionic hands: natural neural coding and artificial perception

2015 ◽  
Vol 370 (1677) ◽  
pp. 20140209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sliman J. Bensmaia
Keyword(s):  
Upper Limb ◽  
Neural Coding ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Brain Activity ◽  
First Century ◽  
Somatosensory Feedback ◽  
Human Arm ◽  
Tactile Sensations ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

The first decade and a half of the twenty-first century brought about two major innovations in neuroprosthetics: the development of anthropomorphic robotic limbs that replicate much of the function of a native human arm and the refinement of algorithms that decode intended movements from brain activity. However, skilled manipulation of objects requires somatosensory feedback, for which vision is a poor substitute. For upper-limb neuroprostheses to be clinically viable, they must therefore provide for the restoration of touch and proprioception. In this review, I discuss efforts to elicit meaningful tactile sensations through stimulation of neurons in somatosensory cortex. I focus on biomimetic approaches to sensory restoration, which leverage our current understanding about how information about grasped objects is encoded in the brain of intact individuals. I argue that not only can sensory neuroscience inform the development of sensory neuroprostheses, but also that the converse is true: stimulating the brain offers an exceptional opportunity to causally interrogate neural circuits and test hypotheses about natural neural coding.

scholarly journals The rat: a laboratory model for studies of the diving response

2010 ◽  
Vol 108 (4) ◽  
pp. 811-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Michael Panneton ◽  
Qi Gan ◽  
Rajko Juric
Keyword(s):  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Neural Control ◽  
Diving Behavior ◽  
Laboratory Model ◽  
Diving Response ◽  
Hemodynamic Variables ◽  
Autonomic Reflex ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Brain Study ◽  
Stimulation Of

Underwater submersion in mammals induces apnea, parasympathetically mediated bradycardia, and sympathetically mediated peripheral vasoconstriction. These effects are collectively termed the diving response, potentially the most powerful autonomic reflex known. Although these physiological responses are directed by neurons in the brain, study of neural control of the diving response has been hampered since 1) it is difficult to study the brains of animals while they are underwater, 2) feral marine mammals are usually large and have brains of variable size, and 3) there are but few references on the brains of naturally diving species. Similar responses are elicited in anesthetized rodents after stimulation of their nasal mucosa, but this nasopharyngeal reflex has not been compared directly with natural diving behavior in the rat. In the present study, we compared hemodynamic responses elicited in awake rats during volitional underwater submersion with those of rats swimming on the water's surface, rats involuntarily submerged, and rats either anesthetized or decerebrate and stimulated nasally with ammonia vapors. We show that the hemodynamic changes to voluntary diving in the rat are similar to those of naturally diving marine mammals. We also show that the responses of voluntary diving rats are 1) significantly different from those seen during swimming, 2) generally similar to those elicited in trained rats involuntarily “dunked” underwater, and 3) generally different from those seen from dunking naive rats underwater. Nasal stimulation of anesthetized rats differed most from the hemodynamic variables of rats trained to dive voluntarily. We propose that the rat trained to dive underwater is an excellent laboratory model to study neural control of the mammalian diving response, and also suggest that some investigations may be done with nasal stimulation of decerebrate preparations to decipher such control.

scholarly journals Changes in subjective experience elicited by direct stimulation of the human orbitofrontal cortex

Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (16) ◽  
pp. e1519-e1527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kieran C. R. Fox ◽  
Jennifer Yih ◽  
Omri Raccah ◽  
Shrita L. Pendekanti ◽  
Lauren E. Limbach ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Orbitofrontal Cortex ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Focal Epilepsy ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
Sensory Experiences ◽  
Neurosurgical Patients ◽  
Intracranial Electrodes ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

ObjectiveWe applied direct cortical stimulation (DCS) to the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) in neurosurgical patients implanted with intracranial electrodes to probe, with high anatomic precision, the causal link between the OFC and human subjective experience.MethodsWe administered 272 instances of DCS at 172 OFC sites in 22 patients with intractable focal epilepsy (from 2011 to 2017), none of whom had seizures originating from the OFC.ResultsOur observations revealed a rich variety of affective, olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory changes in the subjective domain. Elicited experiences were largely neutral or negatively valenced (e.g., aversive smells and tastes, sadness, and anger). Evidence was found for preferential left lateralization of negatively valenced experiences and strong right lateralization of neutral effects. Moreover, most of the elicited effects were observed after stimulation of OFC tissue around the transverse orbital sulcus, and none were seen in the most anterior aspects of the OFC.ConclusionsOur study yielded 3 central findings: first, a dissociation between the “silent” anterior and nonsilent middle/posterior OFC where stimulation clearly elicits changes in subjective experience; second, evidence that the OFC might play a causal role in integrating affect and multimodal sensory experiences; and third, clear evidence for left lateralization of negatively valenced effects. Our findings provide important information for clinicians treating OFC injury or planning OFC resection and scientists seeking to understand the brain basis for the integration of sensation, cognition, and affect.

Visual Substitution Systems: Control and Information Processing Considerations

1975 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 300-304
Author(s):  
Raymond M. Fish
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Visual System ◽  
Visual Information ◽  
Control Mechanisms ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
Systems Control ◽  
Display Systems ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Processing Of Visual Information ◽  
Stimulation Of

A detailed discussion of the visual mechanisms found in the higher vertebrates is used as the basis for exploring the problems found in creating visual substitution systems. Specific attention is given to the control mechanisms used in the visual system and to the processing of visual information in the retina and brain. The three types of substitution systems discussed are tactual display systems, audio display systems, and those involving direct stimulation of the brain using electrodes.

scholarly journals SPREAD OF DIRECTLY EVOKED RESPONSES IN THE CAT'S CEREBRAL CORTEX

1959 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 761-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. B. Brooks ◽  
P. S. Enger
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Neuromuscular Blocking ◽  
Brain Circulation ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
Synaptic Excitation ◽  
Excitatory State ◽  
Supramaximal Stimulation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

A study has been made of the electrical responses to direct stimulation of the exposed cerebral cortex of cats that had been immobilized with neuromuscular blocking drugs, and whose muscle and skin wounds had been locally anesthetized. The characteristics and spread of the first and second surface-negative responses are described. It was found that the first surface-negative response to weak stimuli decays linearly to zero at 3 to 6 mm. from the point of stimulation. Intermediate stimuli cause farther and non-linear spread: responses are re-initiated, or reinforced, at 6 to 10 mm.; and supramaximal stimulation produces reinforcement both at 5 and at 10 mm. The conduction velocity of these responses is uniform for linear spread (0.7 to 2.0 m./sec.), but reinforced responses occur 1 to 3 msec. earlier than would be expected for simple conduction. The phenomenon of re-initiation, or reinforcement, depends upon the excitatory state of the brain; circulation and previous stimulation are important factors. Connections outside the gyrus matter only in so far as they provide other sources of general excitation. It is concluded that two types of transmission: slow and fast, can lead to generation of similar surface-negative responses. The suggestion is made that the slowly conducted surface-negative potentials are due to direct or to synaptic excitation of pyramidal cells; while the responses with shortened latency are initiated synaptically on other pyramidal cells after fast conduction at about 10 m./sec. in tangential fibres.

scholarly journals The many faces of research on face perception

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1571) ◽  
pp. 1634-1637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony C. Little ◽  
Benedict C. Jones ◽  
Lisa M. DeBruine
Keyword(s):  
Face Perception ◽  
Neural Mechanisms ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
The Social ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Cell Recording ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

Face perception is fundamental to human social interaction. Many different types of important information are visible in faces and the processes and mechanisms involved in extracting this information are complex and can be highly specialized. The importance of faces has long been recognized by a wide range of scientists. Importantly, the range of perspectives and techniques that this breadth has brought to face perception research has, in recent years, led to many important advances in our understanding of face processing. The articles in this issue on face perception each review a particular arena of interest in face perception, variously focusing on (i) the social aspects of face perception (attraction, recognition and emotion), (ii) the neural mechanisms underlying face perception (using brain scanning, patient data, direct stimulation of the brain, visual adaptation and single-cell recording), and (iii) comparative aspects of face perception (comparing adult human abilities with those of chimpanzees and children). Here, we introduce the central themes of the issue and present an overview of the articles.

Effects of intracranial stimulation on denervated nictitating membrane of the cat

1961 ◽  
Vol 200 (5) ◽  
pp. 901-908 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan B. Rothballer ◽  
Seth K. Sharpless
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Cranial Nerves ◽  
Intracranial Stimulation ◽  
Optimal Conditions ◽  
Nictitating Membrane ◽  
Direct Stimulation ◽  
Greater Superficial Petrosal Nerve ◽  
Chronic Denervation ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Stimulation Of

The effect of intracranial stimulation on the chronically denervated nictitating membrane of the encéphale isolé cat has been studied. After eliminating sympathoadrenal discharge, we found that the nictitating membrane responds to direct stimulation of the brain stem and certain cranial nerves through: 1) an intrinsic sensitivity to direct mechanical stimulation which develops in the smooth-muscle fibers of the nictitating membrane after chronic denervation; 2) an effect by way of the greater superficial petrosal nerve, producing retraction of the nictitating membrane from diffusion of acetylcholine onto the sensitized smooth muscle from secretomotor fibers innervating nearby orbital glands; and 3) finally, after exclusion of cranial nerve effects, one can still, under optimal conditions, obtain retraction of the nictitating membrane after stimulation of the reticular formation, an effect that is tentatively ascribed to the release of a humoral factor from some intracranial source. The bearing of these findings on previous work in which the nictitating membrane has been used as an indicator of circulating neurohumors is discussed.

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