$1,068,985
Brain-Computer Interfaces for Functional Recovery from Brain Injury
University of Washington
Focus: To increase functional recovery in damaged areas of the brain using implantable electrical stimulators.
Recovery from brain damage due to a stroke, traumatic brain injury or epilepsy presents a struggle for thousands of patients in Washington State and millions of people throughout the world. Electrical stimulation of the brain, which promotes long-term changes in nerve activity, could potentially be a new treatment for advancing recovery in individuals suffering from brain impairment. The investigators will use implantable electric stimulators to more effectively and continuously stimulate the brainís outer region or cortex. The team will develop and test minimally invasive techniques meant to enhance the clinical application of the implantable electric stimulators. Parallel studies will be conducted in animal models and human subjects using a neurochip to develop more effective delivery of therapeutic brain stimulation. The potential for translation and use in clinical settings could have a wide-ranging impact for Washingtonians with neurological disorders and those recovering from, or managing, chronic brain-deterioration disease.
Co-Applicant Organization: Washington State University
Grant Update
“We have made significant advances in demonstrating the ability of a recurrent brain-computer interface to create plastic changes in the connections between neurons. This activity-dependent plasticity was demonstrated by showing that stimulation of cortical sites triggered by muscle activity can change the cortical output effects. A second cofirmation showed that stimulation of spinal cord sites triggered by cortical neuronal activity can change the strength of corticospinal connections. ”
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