The Center for Neural Engineering (CNE) is a new University-Wide center bringing Medicine to Engineering, and Engineering to Medicine, at Penn State. The CNE specializes in Dynamical Diseases of the brain – where pathological patterns of activity in the brain generate the symptoms. To better understand how such patterns arise from the interactions between nerve cells in the brain, scientists in the CNE apply a multidisciplinary approach using (SLIDE 1 TOP) network electrophysiology, (SLIDE 1 MIDDLE) nanoparticle analyte sensing (to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of analytes such as potassium and oxygen which determine the level of excitability of the neurons), and (SLIDE 1 BOTTOM) computational modeling of the findings (to gain a physical understanding of the pattern formation and to serve as models for control).

The CNE is pioneering the application of model based engineering control theory to (SLIDE 2 UPPER) Brain-Machine Interfaces for the disabled, (SLIDE 2 MIDDLE) control of cortical wave mechanics in the brain, and (SLIDE 2 BOTTOM) prototype control systems for Epilepsy and Parkinson's Disease in animal models.

The CNE has a strong translational component applying its findings to construct prototype medical device technology. They are (SLIDE 3 TOP) developing novel materials to improve the electrical characteristics of deep brain electrodes, (SLIDE 3 MIDDLE) designing hardware and software for online sensing and actuation, and (SLIDE 3 BOTTOM) perform extensive safety testing of these systems (image shows degeneration of nerve cells and fibers in the brain following deep brain electrode insertion). Clinical trials will be performed at Hershey as these technologies mature.

Finally, the CNE is committed to outreach Finally, the CNE is committed to outreach. Their scientists have worked extensively with high school students, including (SLIDE 4 LEFT) last year's MIT-Lemmelson InvenTeams program with a brain controlled motorized wheelchair (image shows school teacher in wheelchair at MIT), (SLIDE 4 MIDDLE) using cutting edge image analysis to enable less expensive diagnosis from available technologies in the developing world (shown is CT of a child used as substitute for MRI in a child with epilepsy in Mbale, Uganda), and an commitment to the ethical application of all of these new technologies, organizing an upcoming international Conference on the Ethics of Neural Prosthetics to be held at Penn State in the Fall of 2007.