Neuroengineering

The main focus of research for the neuroengineering thrust (NET) is the development of integrated technologies for recording, analyzing and stimulating brain activity. These technologies will allow us to relate neural dynamics to behavior and directly control perception, cognition, emotion or movement (see figure). The ultimate goal is the production of closed-loop systems capable of interpreting and adaptively modulating activity in brain circuits and restore healthy brain function. On the way to achieve this goal, the NET will produce innovative neuro-technologies for investigating the relationship between brain activity and behavior in physiological and pathological conditions.

The NET relies on investigating and intervening in neuroscience challenges employing engineering principles by:

1. Developing electrophysiological and cellular imaging tools for monitoring activity from large ensembles of neurons in behaving animals;
2. Developing a network of intelligent microimplants that will enable unprecedented spatial scale of distributed sensing of neural signals and targeted stimulations;
3. Using tools of computational neuroscience, signal processing, machine learning, control theory, statistics and electronic devices in order to interpret neural activity in real time and adaptively control neural stimulation;
4. Developing methods for brain stimulation via electrophysiological, opto- or chemo-genetic and ultrasound methods.

We conceive the NET as an incubator of neuro-technology and a facilitator of collaborative grant proposals (NIH and NSF Brain Initiative Grants, DOD, DARPA, etc).