Survey of Current Neuroengineering Research

Cochlear Implant ● Direct Electrical Stimulation of Auditory Nerve ● Microphone, Signal Processor, Transmission Line, Electrode Array ● u/~loizou/cimplants/tu torial/

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