The REMIND Program Callie Thomas 11/14/2012
Forming Memories There are two types of memory- short term and long term. Short term memory refers to information that is not retained for long- about 30 seconds or 7 "items" for the average adult. With reinforcement, short term memories are converted into long term memories, which can last the duration of a person's lifetime.
Forming Memories The part of the brain responsible for converting information from short term to long term memory is the hippocampus. The functionality of the hippocampus can decline for many reasons; aging, stroke, epilepsy, head trauma. When the hippocampus is damaged, long term memories can’t be properly formed
REMIND REMIND (Restorative Encoding Memory Integration Neural Device) is a neural prosthesis, designed to mimic the hippocampus. Funded by DARPA, this $16.8 million dollar project is aimed at helping soldiers recover from memory loss resulting from head trauma. Frequently, damage results in the inability to form long term memories, preventing returning soldiers from effectively retaining information- about their family, events, or skills for a new job. Estimated that 400,000 veterans of the Iraq war return with this type of injury- as of October, 2011
How it Works The device is a tiny computer chip connected directly to brain through multi electrode array. Information that is normally sent by the brain to the hippocampus is instead sent through the chip. The device processes the inputs and converts the signals, similarly to the way the hippocampus operates. The information is then sent through another multi- electrode array that connects with the output neurons of the hippocampus, which sends the information to the appropriate memory-retaining areas of the brain.
Current Trials Currently, the technology is nowhere near sophisticated enough to mimic the human hippocampus exactly. The project recently moved on to development for rhesus monkeys, which is projected to take at least 3 years. However, the project saw huge steps in trials on rats...
Current Trials Rats were trained to perform a specific task, with an average memory span of seconds (meaning they can remember and perform a task that lasts seconds). The rats brain functions were monitored, creating a recording of the processes the hippocampus carried out during the activity. From the recording, coding was created which simulated the hippocampus. This coding was programmed into the REMIND chip.
The rats were then given a drug which reduced the capacity of the hippocampus, simulating brain damage. The control group of rats were then only able to retain seconds of the same activity during training. With the REMIND chip implanted, rats were trained to complete the task again. Functions improved in almost every case, with most rats returning to “almost normal” conditions. Current Trials
Future Directions Applying the technology to humans More precise surgery procedures- speculation that the varying degrees of returned functionality is due to "misalignment" of the device during implantation. Combining it with a chip on the prefrontal cortex (on the primates) to further aid in memory retention. Using the chip as a learning device, to "download" information directly to a person's long term memory
References Beidel, Eric. "Brain Implants Could Help ‘REMIND’ Injured Soldiers." Defense Technology Newswire. National Defense Industrial Association, Oct Web. 11 Nov "Building Replacement Parts for the Brain." Engineering Research Centers Achievement Showcase. National Science Foundation, Web. 11 Nov "DARPA Awards $2.3 Million Grant to Restore Lost Memory Function." USC Viterbi School of Engineering. USC University of Southern California, 16 Oct Web. 11 Nov Ling, Geoffrey. "Restorative Encoding Memory Integration Neural Device (REMIND)." Defense Sciences Office Online. DARPA, Web. 11 Nov